1. An introduction with a romanticism twist
Lyric Poetry
An introduction with a romanticism twist

2. Song lyrics
On a separate sheet, write down your favorite song lyric (if it is explicit, make sure you use *** to indicate that). In about a sentence, explain what is so appealing to you about that song lyric.

3. What is Lyric Poetry?
Lyric poetry expresses the personal thoughts and feelings of a single speaker.
Have a melodious, song like structure
Use imagery, sound devices, and figurative language
“Poetry . . . is. . . a speaking picture . . . ” —Sir Philip Sidney

4. Figurative Language
Simile: comparing two apparently unlike things, using like or as
Metaphor: comparing two apparently unlike things without using like or as
Personification: giving human traits to something nonhuman
Oxymoron: juxtaposing two opposite or contradictory words that reveal an interesting truth

5. Sound Devices “The western wave was all aflame.”
Repetition: repeated use of sounds, words, phrases, or sentences. Poets use repetition for emphasis as well as to create a musical effect. There are three popular devices that rely on repetition:
Alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds
Consonance: repetition of final consonant sounds
Assonance: repetition of similar vowel sounds
Rhyme: repetition of sounds at the ends of words.
End rhyme is the most common type of rhyme, which occurs when rhyming words appear at the ends of lines.
Internal rhyme occurs when rhyming words appear within the same line.
Onomatopoeia: use of words that imitate sounds—for example, words like ring, boom, and growl.
“a frightful fiend / Doth close behind…”
“The fair breeze blew, the white foal flew…”
“With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,…”

6. Lyrical Ballads Poetry is….
“the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”
Coleridge and Wordsworth

7. Ignoring the “love element” for a moment…
What makes this line romantic?
Focus on individual emotion
Comparison and link to nature
My love for you is like a red, red, rose

8. The Natural Element Comparisons are often made to nature… why?
“Nature” a creative and controlling force in the universe
An inner force or the sum of such forces in an individual.

9. Okay, so what makes it Lyrical?
Expresses the thoughts and emotions of one speaker…
“MY”
First person

10. Words and emotions create the tone of the poem
What is the tone?

11. What techniques are used?
Simile or Metaphor?
Imagery?
Alliteration?
Rhyme?

12. What words are used?
Love
Red
Rose

13. COMPARISON
LOVE
ROSE

14. Can you replace any of the words and achieve the same effect?
Yellow, white, pink?
Tulip, daffodil, lily?
Like, hate, tolerate?

15. So…how do words hold power?
Explain.

16. A Red, Red Rose
Robert Burns

17. Identify the techniques used to make the musical quality.
A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns
Listen to the poem…
My love is like a red, red rose
   That’s newly sprung in June :
My love is like the melody
   That’s sweetly played in tune.  
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
   So deep in love am I :
And I will love thee still, my dear,
   Till a’ the seas gang dry.  
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
   And the rocks melt wi’ the sun :
   While the sands o’ life shall run.  
And fare thee weel, my only love,
   And fare thee weel a while !
And I will come again, my love,
   Thou’ it were ten thousand mile.
Identify the techniques used to make the musical quality.

18. Now, Listen to the musical tune
A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns
My love is like a red, red rose
   That’s newly sprung in June :
My love is like the melody
   That’s sweetly played in tune.  
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
   So deep in love am I :
And I will love thee still, my dear,
   Till a’ the seas gang dry.  
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
   And the rocks melt wi’ the sun :
   While the sands o’ life shall run.  
And fare thee weel, my only love,
   And fare thee weel a while !
And I will come again, my love,
   Thou’ it were ten thousand mile.
Now, Listen to the musical tune
Burns’ poem as an old Scottish ballad.
Play file of My Love is a Red, Red Rose from desktop

19. Is it what you expected?
Explain.

20. Does the tone change when music is added?
Explain.