POETRY

STANZA

•A DIVISION IN POETRY SHOWN BY A LINE BREAK

•IN POETRY IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A PARAGRAPH

Yankee Doodle went to town A-riding on a pony

Stuck a feather in his hat And called it macaroni.

ChorusYankee Doodle, keep it upYankee Doodle dandyMind the music and the step And with the girls be handy.

Father and I went down to camp Along with Captain GoodingAnd there we saw the men and boys As thick as hasty pudding.

Chorus What type of poem is this?

BALLAD

A POEM THAT TELLS A STORY.

IT’S OFTEN OF FOLK ORIGIN AND IS MEANT TO BE SUNG.

USUALLY CONSISTS OF SIMPLE STANZAS AND HAS A REFRAIN (A REPEATED PHRASE OR STANZA.)

The Ballad Of The Turkey© G Yates As I walked along the road one dayKicking up stones along the way,I saw a bird of unusual sizeWho had a large beak and small, beady eyes.

He strutted about and ruffled his wingsThen he did the most ominous thing.He let out a screech and puffed out his chestI wanted to run from this evil pest.

As this bird's mighty exterior did appearThe inside of my chest was filled with fear.He put one talon forward, the other one nextThis troublesome bird was making me vexed.

I then did something that was a great chance.I kicked a stone at him to stop his advance.He then chased the stone, oh joy of great joys!I felt myself one of the luckiest boys!

Around the corner I ran, straight to my home,Leaving that bird confused and alone.Don't befriend a turkey (for that's what he was)Or he will attack you simply because.

BLANK VERSE

•EACH LINE HAS TEN SYLLABLES

•THE SYLLABLES HAVE A PATTERN OF UNSTRESSED SYLLABLE, STRESSED SYLLABLE, UNSTRESSED SYLLABLE, STRESSED SYLLABLE, AND SO ON .

•THE LINES DO NOT HAVE AN END RHYME SCHEME

But do not let us quarrel anymore,No, my Lucrezia; bear with me for once:Sit down and all shall happen as you wish.You turn your face, but does it bring your heart?

- Robert Browning

COUPLET

•A PAIR OF LINES THAT USUALLY RHYME

•CAN APPEAR IN OTHER POETRY FORMS, SUCH AS SONNETS

• EXAMPLE

• O, SHE DOTH TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN BRIGHT!

• IT SEEMS SHE HANGS UPON THE CHEEK OF NIGHT?• - WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR

ELEGY

•TRADITIONALLY WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF A PERSON OR GROUP.

•IT IS SIMILAR TO AN EPITAPH (WRITTEN ON A TOMBSTONE) OR A EUOLOGY (WRITTEN USING PROSE)

•FOCUSES ON THE LOSS OR GRIEF ITSELF

Too proud to die: broken and blind he died The darkest way, and did not turn away,A cold king man brave in his narrow pride

On that darkest day, Oh, forever mayHe lie lightly, at least, on the last, crossedHill, under the grass, in love, and there grow.

- Dylan Thomas

EPIC• A LONG POEM NARRATING THE HEROIC EXPLOITS OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN A WAY

CENTRAL TO THE BELIEFS AND CULTURE OF THE SOCIETY.

• TYPICAL ELEMENTS INCLUDE:

• FABULOUS ADVENTURES

• SUPERHUMAN DEEDS

• MAJESTIC LANGUAGE

• MYTHICAL SETTING

EXAMPLES: THE ODYSSEY BY HOMER AND BEOWULF

LYRIC• DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO TELL A STORY.

• IT’S MORE PERSONAL IN NATURE.

• ADDRESSES THE READER DIRECTLY; PORTRAYING THE SPEAKER’S FEELINGS, STATE OF MIND, AND PERCEPTIONS.

• IS OFTEN WRITTEN WITH A SPECIFIC RHYME SCHEME AND METER.

• EXAMPLES: “DAFFODILS” BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

• “I HEAR AMERICAN SINGING” BY WALT WHITMAN

DyingI heard a fly buzz when I died;The stillness round my form

Was like the stillness in the airBetween the heaves of storm.

The eyes beside had wrung them dry,And breaths were gathering sureFor that last onset, when the king

Be witnessed in his power.

I willed my keepsakes, signed awayWhat portion of me I

Could make assignable,-and thenThere interposed a fly,

With blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz,Between the light and me;

And then the windows failed, and thenI could not see to see.

-Emily Dickinson

HAIKU• JAPANESE FORM OF POETRY

• USUALLY ABOUT NATURE

• 3 UNRHYMED LINES OF 5, 7, AND 5 SYLLABLES

• EXAMPLE:

• SPRINGTIME IN THE WOODS (5 SYLLABLES)

• A LITTLE WHITE SNAKE WENT IN (7 SYLLABLES)

• THE POND VERY FAST (5 SYLLABLES)

NARRATIVE• POEMS THAT TELL A STORY

• THEY HAVE CHARACTERS AND A PLOT JUST LIKE A STORY.

• SOMETIMES THEY HAVE DIALOGUE, THEMES, AND CONFLICT.

• THEY CAN SOMETIMES BE CATEGORIZED AS ANOTHER FORM, SUCH AS BALLADS OR EPICS.

• EXAMPLES: THE CANTERBURY TALES BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER

• “THE RAVEN” BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Jimmy Goes to the CityJimmy was a happy apeUntil some hunters caught himHe liked the jungle better thanThe city where they brought himThe city was louderThe city was meanerEven the dirt in the jungle was cleanerSo Jimmy made a daring escape!The hunters were suddenly minus one ape!He climbed the tallest buildingBecause from there he'd seeHow far away the jungle wasFrom the middle of the city.Jimmy jumped into a passing planeBut the pilot didn't wait for him to explainJimmy flew back to the jungleAnd told his ape friends in their lair"The city's okay for a visitBut you couldn't make me live there.“

- Arthur Read

The Snowman

 

There once was a very happy snowmanwho was loved by all the boys and girls.He would watch them run and playwith each passing day.

 One day the sun was so brightthe snowman knew it wasn't quite right.He hoped with each daythat he would not melt awayif only he could make it until night.

As the days became warmer and warmerthe snowman knew he was in danger.He said his good-byes and looked in their eyesand said, "I promise I'll see you again."

The next snowy daythe children all came out to play.They worked for hours togetherto bring their friend back to them.

Before the days endthey all had their friend.The happy snowman joined themonce again.

ODE

• FOCUSES ON ONE SUBJECT AND FINDS AN ORIGINAL WAY TO EXPRESS WHAT IS GOOD AND UNIQUE ABOUT IT.

• TRADITIONALLY ODES FOLLOW A RHYME SCHEME OF ABABCDECDE FOR EACH STANZA.

• EXAMPLE: “ODE ON A GRECIAN URN” BY JOHN KEATS

“ODE TO THE CONFEDERATE DEAD” BY ALLEN TATE

An Ode To SleepAh for the comfort of one's bed!

Sweet sleep, so gentle and profound,Rest for me, my weary bones,For 'tis the turmoil of my waking hours,That make my muscles moan and groan,Through the exploits of my toil,Take me to the SlumberlandWhere my dreams seem all too real,And ne'er arouse me 'til the alarm's command!

Let the cold wind not induce,Its influence upon my warmth,Nor the rain, with its prattling produce,Arouse me from contented charm,As I sail away on your pleasantries,The breath of dreams I float upon,Ah, sweet sleep, envelope me,Protect me until the morning comes!

By Harry Boslem

FREE VERSEWRITTEN WITHOUT REGARD TO FORM, RHYME, RHYTHM, METER, OR LINE BREAKS.

DOESN’T HAVE A CLEAR TRADITIONAL FORM.

EXAMPLES: “OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN” BY WALT WHITMAN

“TO A STRANGER” BY WALT WITMAN

Messy Room by Shel Silverstein

 Whosever room this is should be ashamed!

His underwear is hanging on the lamp.His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,

And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.His workbook is wedged in the window,His sweater's been thrown on the floor.

His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.

His books are all jammed in the closet,His vest has been left in the hall.

A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.

Whosever room this is should be ashamed!Donald or Robert or Willie or--

Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear,I knew it looked familiar!

SONNET

•WRITTEN IN 14 LINES AND ENDING IN A COUPLET.

•HAVE A SPECIFIC RHYTHM THE POET MUST FOLLOW.

Another Sonnet for Stephan

I see a little boy of four or fiveWhose face lights up whenever we would playWho made me feel it’s great to be a liveAnd wish that time would never tick awayI see a college youth who goes to Penn,Strong and handsome, smart to mind and dress,Enthusiastic, kind, who score a “ten,”Possessing every trait that spells success.

I see the man who came from both those boysCreating business plans and paths to wealthWith nonchalance, with skill and unique poiseWhile fighting back attackers of his health.The boy, the youth, the man are each now gone, Except that in my heart they linger on.

- Alvin Lester Sitomer

RHYME SCHEME

• THE PATTERN OF RHYME IN A POEM.

• TO FIND A POEM’S RHYME SCHEME, LOOK AT THE LAST WORD OF EACH LINE.

• IF THERE’S A RHYME SCHEME, SOME OF THE LAST WORDS WILL RHYME WITH EACH OTHER.

• REMEMBER THAT NOT ALL POEMS HAVE A RHYME SCHEME.

AABB RHYME SCHEME

• EVERY 2 LINES RHYME

• EXAMPLE:

• UNREAL• I THOUGHT I HAD FOUND THE ONE (A)

• HE ECLIPSED THE STARS, MOON, AND SUN (A)

• YET, WITH EACH PASSING DAY (B)

• THE BLUE SKIES TURNED A LITTLE MORE GRAY. (B)

• - C. VESELY

ABCB RHYME SCHEME• THE 2ND AND 4TH LINE OF EACH STANZA RHYME

• EXAMPLE:

• A SUNDAY MORNING

• I SAT AND ATE BLUEBERRIES FROM A PLASTIC CARTON. (A)

• MY NEPHEW TRISTAN JOINED ME (B)

• WE ATE BLUEBERRIES AND READ THE PAPER TOGETHER ( C)

• WE LAUGHED BECAUSE WE WERE HAPPY (B)

• - C. VESELY

ABAB RHYME SCHEME

• EVERY OTHER LINE RHYMES

• EXAMPLE:

• HAPPINESS• I LOOKED FOR YOU IN GOLDEN TREASURE (A)

• YOU WERE NOT THERE (B)

• I LOOKED FOR YOU IN PASSING PLEASURE (A)

• I COULDN’T FIND YOU ANYWHERE (B)

• - C. VESELY

NO RHYME SCHEME

• THERE IS NOT RHYMING PATTERN

• EXAMPLE:

• TAKE AND GIVE• TAKE COMFORT FORM THE SOFT SKY

• TAKE JOY FROM THE BIRD’S FLIGHT

• TAKE REFRESHMENT FROM THE FLOWERING STREAM

• AND GIVE THANKS.

• - C VESELY

SOUNDS IN POETRY

• SLANT RHYME – ALSO CALLED HALF RHYME, IMPERFECT RHYME, NEAR RHYME, OBLIQUE RHYME, AND OFF RHYME. IT IS A RHYME IN WHICH EITHER THE VOWELS OR THE CONSONANTS OF STRESSED SYLLABLES ARE IDENTICAL.

• EXAMPLES – (EYES, LIGHT) (YEARS, YOURS)

SOUNDS IN POETRY• INTERNAL RHYME – RHYME THAT OCCURS WITHIN A LINE OF VERSE.

• EXAMPLE: IN THE GREY GRAINS OF SAND

• THE DARK VEINS OF DROPPING RAIN

• CONSONANCE – THE REPETITION OF CONSONANTS OR OF A CONSONANTS PATTERN, ESPECIALLY AT THE ENDS OF WORDS.

• EXAMPLE: (BLANK, BLINK) (STRONG STRING)

SOUNDS IN POETRY• ASSONANCE - ALSO CALLED VOWEL RHYME. IT IS A RHYME IN WHICH THE SAME

VOWEL SOUNDS ARE USED WITH DIFFERENT CONSONANTS IN THE STRESSED SYLLABLES OF THE RHYMING WORDS.

• EXAMPLE: PENITENT, RETICENCE

• END RHYME – A RHYME THAT OCCURS IN THE LAST SYLLABLES OF VERSES.

• EXAMPLE – NOW MY DAYS ARE LONELY,

• AND NIGHT-TIME DRIVES ME WILD,

• IN MY HEART I’M CRYING,

• I’M JUST MISS BLUE’ES CHILD! - LANGSTON HUGHES

SOUNDS IN POETRY

• INTERNAL RHYME – THE RHYME OCCURS WITHIN A LINE OF VERSE.

• EXAMPLE: THE SPLENDOR FALLS ON CASTLE WALLS

• AND SNOWY SUMMITS OLD IN STORY;

• THE LONG LIGHT SHAKES ACROSS THE LAKES

• AND THE WILD CATARACT LEAPS IN GLORY.

• - ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

SOUNDS IN POETRY• ALLITERATION – THE REPETIITON OF THE SAME SOUNDS OR OF THE SAME KINDS OF

SOUNDS AT THE BEGINNING OF WORDS OR IN STRESSED SYLLABLES.

• EXAMPLE; KARA CRIED HER KARAOKE TEARS

• ONOMATOPEOIA – IS THE USE OF WORDS SUCH AS “BUZZ” OR “MOO” THAT IMITATE THE SOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OBJECTS TO WHICH THEY REFER.

• EXAMPLE – THE BUZZ OF THE BEES FILLED THE AIR.

• PERSONIFICATION – HUMAN QUALITIES ARE GIVEN TO ANIMALS, OBJECTS, AND IDEAS.

• EXAMPLE: A SMILING MOON