1. What are some of Amy Lowell’s reasons for why we SHOULD read poetry
What are some of Amy Lowell’s reasons for why we SHOULD read poetry? Do you agree? Why or why not?
According to John Lundberg, what are three reasons why we DON’T read poetry? Do you agree with his reasons? Are there other reasons why you dislike poetry? What are they?
Article Discussion

2. Introduction to Poetry

3. On your handout, produce an original definition of poetry…
Draw on past experiences, classes, reading, your own writing…
What is POETRY???

4. According to Merriam-Webster
Poetry is:
The art of rhythmical composition, either written or spoken
Literary work in metrical form; verse.
Prose with poetic quality
According to Merriam-Webster

5. I want to water ski across the surface of a poem waving at the author’s name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means.
I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem’s room and feel the walls for a light switch.
________ to _______

6. Paraphrase this poem. Break it down into 3 parts.
Summarize its most important/crucial details in your own words.

7. Just like novelists create characters in their texts, poets create speakers (voices/personas) who “speak” their poems.
Who is the speaker of this poem?

8. Identify the poetic (literary) devices present in the poem.
Which one is most significant to the poem as a whole? Why?

9. What would be an appropriate title for this poem?
Why?

10. Introduction to Poetry
I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem’s room and feel the walls for a light switch.
I want to water ski across the surface of a poem waving at the author’s name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means.
Introduction to Poetry

11. rhythmical
metrical
meter
literary
lines
prose
composition
writing
verse
rhyme
rhythm
poetic
sound
diction
words
With your partner, produce a new meaningful definition of poetry that does not include ANY of the following terms…

12. “Poetic” Presentations
Bring in one item from home (school appropriate, NOT a piece of text) that meets/displays the criteria of your definition of poetry.
Explain to the class HOW/WHY your item meets the criteria of this definition.
Another way you might think of this task: How or why is your baseball mitt (water polo cap, slinky, dog—only pictures, please!) poetic?
The presentation is worth TEN in-class points We will SIGN UP!
Creativity/Originality
Validity of example
Preparedness/Enthusiasm
“Poetic” Presentations