1. Figurative Launguage
And poetry review

2. Lyric Poems
A lyric poem expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker.
Example: “A Funeral In My Brain” by Emily Dickenson
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,
And Mourners to and fro
Kept treading - treading - till it seemed
That Sense was breaking through –
And when they all were seated,
A Service, like aDrum –
Kept beating - beating - till I thought
My Mind was going numb - 

3. Anglo-Saxon poems
An Anglo-Saxon lyric poem, composed for easy memorization (given that they didn’t generally write things down), contain the following elements:
Lines with regular rhythm
Caesuras, pauses for breath in the middle of lines (shown either by punctuation or empty space)
Kennings, two-word poetic re-namings, like “whales’ home” for the sea.
Assonance, repeated vowel sounds in unrhymed, stressed syllables
Alliteration, repeated initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables

4. Regular rhythms
rhythm: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line. ^
/ ^ /
^ / ^
The
falling
out of
faithful
friends,
renewing is
love

5. Regular Rhythms
Oft to the wanderer, weary of exile Cometh God’s pity, compassionate love. Though woefully toiling on wintery seas With churning oar in the icy wave, Homeless and helpless he fled from fate. from “The Wanderer”

6. Caesuras
Pauses for breath in the middle of lines (punctuation or space)
Oft to the wanderer, weary of exile
Cometh God’s pity, compassionate love.
Though woefully toiling on wintery seas
With churning oar in the icy wave,
Homeless and helpless he fled from fate.

7. Kennings Where’s the Kenning?
Storms now batter these ramparts of stone; Blowing snow and the blast of winter Enfold the earth; night-shadows fall Darkly lowering, from the north driving Raging hail in wrath upon men. from “The Wanderer”

8. Assonance
“Poetry is old, ancient, goes back far. It is among the oldest of living things. So old it is that no man knows how and why the first poems came.”
Assonance is subtle… it’s more about creating tone and mood than being in-your-face poetic.
from “The Wanderer”

9. Assonance
“Poetry is old, ancient, goes back far. It is among the oldest of living things. So old it is that no man knows how and why the first poems came.”
Assonance is subtle… it’s more about creating tone and mood than being in-your-face poetic.
from “The Wanderer”

10. Alliteration repeated initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables
Sea-birds bathing, with wings outspread,
While hailstorms darken, and driving snow,
Bitterer then is the bane of his wretchedness.
from “The Wanderer”

11. Alliteration repeated initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables
Sea-birds bathing, with wings outspread,
While hailstorms darken, and driving snow,
Bitterer then is the bane of his wretchedness.
from “The Wanderer”

12. Others to look for
Look for similies and metaphors in ALL writing, not just poetry.
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief,
What’s the metaphor? Object A = Object B

13. Others to look for
Look for similies and metaphors in ALL writing, not just poetry.
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief,
What’s the metaphor? Object A = Object B
Juliet = the sun

14. Others to look for Metaphor or simile?
For a brief while your strength is in bloom but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow  illness or the sword to lay you low,
from Beowulf

15. Others to Look For Similie “O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.”
- Robert Burns

16. Language
Be aware of denotation and connotation when it comes to the author’s word choice. It’s also incredibly important in setting the tone or mood of a piece.
Denotation: the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression
Connotation: The emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word.

17. Denotation
Know the definitions of the words you are reading! The dictionary (and the Dictionary.com app) are your best friends. Denotation is easy if you’re willing to look stuff up (which you really, really should be).
“Even in slumber his sorrow assaileth.”
What does “assail” mean?
Assail: Make a concerted or violent attack on.
What does “concerted” mean?
Jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated.

18. Even if you think you know!
Denotation
Even in slumber his sorrow assaileth.”
What does “assail” mean?
Assail: Make a concerted or violent attack on.
What does “concerted” mean?
Jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated.
Suddenly, his sorrow becomes a living, calculating thing! It is violently and purposefully attacking this warrior! Much more terrible than saying “he was sad even when he was sleeping.”
LOOK THIS STUFF UP!
Even if you think you know!

19. Connotation The emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word.
SPECIFIC, PURPOSEFUL WORD-CHOICE
Con = Latin for “with,” so think “with other meaning”
Childlike, Youthful, Childish, Young
Disabled, Crippled, Handicapped, Retarded
Talkative, Conversational, Chatty, Nosy

20. WHY Figurative Language
I PROMISE YOU, EVERY WORD WAS CHOSEN DELIBERATELY. IT’S YOUR MISSION TO FIGURE OUT
WHY