1. Introduction to Poetry
You will need:
Reading folder
Literary notebook
“The Raven”

2. Set up a T-chart in your literary notebooks
Set up a T-chart in your literary notebooks. What are the differences between prose and poetry? (Prose is the type of writing in fiction, non-fiction, and drama texts.)
Prose
Poetry

3. Today’s Agenda:
Prose vs. Poetry
Strategies to make meaning of poetry

4. Prose vs. Poetry STRUCTURE: CONTENT: Informational, logical, practical
Uses sentences arranged in paragraphs.
The first word of each sentence is capitalized.
The first line of each paragraph is indented.
CONTENT: Informational, logical, practical
STYLE:
Straightforward language
EXAMPLES: books, magazines, newspaper articles, etc.
STRUCTURE:
Poetry looks unique.
Uses stanzas, not paragraphs.
Uses lines, not sentences.
Capitalization and indenting are left up to the author’s desires.
CONTENT: Emotional
STYLE:
Word choice is VERY important.
Poetry is created with figurative language.
Poetry has a rhythm created by sound devices.
EXAMPLES: Poems, books written in verse, and songs.

5. Making Meaning of Poetry

6. How to Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam
Don't be polite. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that may run down your chin. It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.
You do not need a knife or fork or spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth.
For there is no core or stem or rind or pit or seed or skin to throw away.

7. Brainstorm Strategies How do you “eat” a poem?
List at least 10 strategies you can use to “eat a poem.”

8. Poetry Reading Strategies
Give one, Get one

9. Poetry Reading Strategies
Make predictions based on title.
Find patterns (repeated words or ideas).
Read poem aloud and stop only at punctuation.
Reread all or part of the poem.
Chunk poem by stanza. What is the main idea of each stanza?
Who is the speaker of the poem? (speaker ≠ poet)
Observe writer’s craft.
Examples: conventions (punctuation and capitalization), point of view (pronouns), figurative language, sound devices, word choice, line and stanza breaks, imagery, content, etc.
Identify words that you don’t know and look them up.
Talk to someone else about the poem.

10. Application: Watch/listen to me read a poem.
What strategies do I use to make meaning?

11. Homework: Read “The Raven” using your list of strategies.
Then make a T-chart explaining what strategies you used and what meaning you made based on those strategies.
Reading Strategies:
Meaning Made: