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More Poetry Techniques

• Imagery• Concrete words• Figures of speech • Symbols• Allusion• Irony• Parody• Satire

Imagery

• Imagery is language that causes the reader / listener to imagine something

• It is the use of vivid imaginative language - literal (concrete) or figurative (metaphoric) - to represent objects, actions, or ideas

• It is used in poetry and in prose and normally involves the senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell

• It generates a set of mental pictures or images of things or events:

e.g. "He could still hear the wind howling in his imagination"

Imagery - Vivid Literal Language

• To create images with words writers use vivid literal, concrete words: emotive and descriptive words; nouns adjectives, verbs and adverbs…

• Nouns – names of things• Adjectives – describe things• Verbs – actions and feelings• Adverbs – qualify verbs

The gaunt girl galloped gleefully

Imagery – Figurative Language

• Writers and speakers use figurative language – figures of speech - to make their work more interesting

• They play with words to create an image in the audience’s mind or to add humour to their work

Examples are:• Similes• Metaphors• Personification• Idioms• Proverbs • Adages• Allusion• Symbols

He went off like a fire cracker

Imagery – Figurative LanguageMetaphors and Idioms

Affirmation LyricsSavage Garden

I believe the sun should never set upon an argumentI believe we place our happiness in other people's

handsI believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for

youI believe your parents did the best job they knew how to doI believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteemI believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexualityI believe that trust is more important than monogamyI believe your most attractive features are your heart

and soulI believe that family is worth more than money or goldI believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfairI believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness

I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed

I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelistsI believe in love surviving death into eternity

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

Imagery – Figurative Language

Pink FloydAnother Brick In The Wall

Daddy's home cross the Ocean.Leaving just a memory.The snapshot in the Family album.Daddy what else did you leave for me?Damn It! What did you leave behind for me?

All in all it was just a brick in the wall.All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.

We don't need no education.We don't need no thought control.No dark sarcasm in the classroom.Teacher leave the kids alone.Hey, teacher leave the kids alone!All in all it's just another brick in the wall.All in all you're just another brick in the wall

Metaphors and repetition

We don't need no education.We don't need no thought control.No dark sarcasm in the classroom.Teachers leave those kids alone.Hey, Teacher leave those kids alone!

All in all you're just another brick in the wall.All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

crowd noise

I don't need no arms around me.And I don't need no drugs to calm me.I have seen the writing on the wall.Don't think I'll need anything at all.No, don't think I'll need anything at all.All in all it was just a bricks in the wall.All in all it was just bricks in the wall.

Name your topic in the centre then write as many interesting words or phrases that you can to describe how it affects the senses

LOOKS LIKE

SOUNDS LIKE

FEELS LIKE

TASTES LIKE

SMELLS LIKE

Imagery – Appealing to the senses

Imagery - Allusion

• Allusion is a brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art or a casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event

• When referring to texts it is also known as intertextuality or an intertextual reference

• Many songs use allusion• It adds interest and imagery: if the audience

understands the reference they can easily imagine and understand the connection

Imagery – AllusionHey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)by Blessid Union Of Souls

Lyrics: She don't care about my carShe don't care about my moneyAnd that's real good cause I don't got a lot to spendBut if I did it wouldn't mean nothin'

She likes me for meNot because I look like Tyson BeckfordWith the charm of Robert RedfordOozing out my earsBut what she seesAre my faults and indecisionsMy insecure conditionsAnd the tears upon the pillow that I shed

She don't care about my big screenOr my collection of DVDsThings like that just never mattered much to herPlus she don't watch too much TV

And she don't care that I can fly herTo places she ain't never beenBut if she really wants to go I think deep down she knows thatAll she has to say is when

She likes me for meNot because I hang with LeonardoOr that guy who played in 'Fargo'I think his name is SteveShe's the one for meAnd I just can't live without herMy arms belong around her

Gazing at the ceiling As we entertain our feelings in the darkThe things that we're afraid of Are gonna show us what we're made of in the end

She likes me for meNot because I sing like PavorottiOr because I'm such a hottieI like her for herNot because she's phat like Cindy CrawfordShe has got so much to offerWhy does she waste all her time with meThere must be something there that I don't see

She likes me for meNot because I'm tough like Dirty HarryMake her laugh just like Jim CarreyI'm like the Cable GuyBut what she seesIs that I can't live without her

Imagery – Allusion1985BOWLING FOR SOUP LYRICS[Originally by SR-71]

WoohoohooWoohoohoo

Debbie just hit the wallShe never had it allOne Prozac a dayHusband's a CPAHer dreams went out the doorWhen she turned twenty fourOnly been with one manWhat happen to her plan?

She was gonna be an actressShe was gonna be a starShe was gonna shake her assOn the hood of white snake’s car

Her yellow SUV is now the enemyLooks at her average lifeAnd nothing has been alright sinceBruce Springsteen, MadonnaWay before NirvanaThere was U2 and BlondieAnd music still on MTV

Her two kids in high schoolThey tell her that she’s uncoolCause she's still preoccupiedWith 19, 19, 1985Woohoohoo(1985)Woohoohoo

She’s seen all the classicsShe knows every lineBreakfast Club, Pretty in PinkEven Saint Elmo’s FireShe rocked out to WhamNot a big Limp Bizkit fanThought she’d get a handOn a member of Duran DuranWhere’s the mini-skirt made of snake skinAnd who’s the other guy that's singing in

Van HalenWhen did reality become T.V.Whatever happened to sitcoms, game

shows

(on the radio was)Springsteen, MadonnaWay before NirvanaThere was U2 and BlondieAnd music still on MTVHer two kids in high schoolThey tell her that she’s uncoolCause she's still preoccupiedWith 19, 19, 1985WoohoohooShe hates time make it stopWhen did Motley Crue become

classic rock?And when did Ozzy become an

actor?Please make this stopStop!And bring backSpringsteen, MadonnaWay before NirvanaThere was U2 and BlondieAnd music still on MTVHer two kids in high schoolThey tell her that she’s uncoolCause she's still preoccupiedWith 1985

IMAGERY - SYMBOLSA symbol is an object that is used to represent something else…

A white dove symbolises peace

The red rose is a symbol of love

LITERARY TECHNIQUES - IRONY1. VERBAL IRONY - When a person says one thing but means the opposite

e.g. Saying “You look happy today” to someone who looks miserable.

2. SITUATIONAL IRONY – When there is a difference between what is expected and what actually happens. e.g .As in the Lyrics from “Ironic” by Alanis Morrisette… “An old man turned ninety-eight, he won the lottery and died the next day …It's a death row pardon two minutes too late … It's a free ride when you've already paid…”

3. DRAMATIC IRONY – A literary technique in which the audience can perceive a hidden meaning unknown to the character. e.g. As in Macbeth: when Duncan approaches Macbeth’s castle it is ironic that he says to Banquo, “This castle hath a pleasant seat” because we know that the Macbeths are plotting his death.

Irony has three main effects in literature:

1. To show folly in an amusing way2. As a form of criticism and to show anger3. To show the tragedy or sadness of a situation

LITERARY TECHNIQUES - IRONYArtist: Alanis MorissetteSong: Ironic Lyrics

An old man turned ninety-eight He won the lottery and died the next day It's a black fly in your Chardonnay It's a death row pardon two minutes too late Isn't it ironic ... don't you think

Chorus

It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought ... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye He waited his whole damn life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down he thought 'Well isn't this nice...' And isn't it ironic ... don't you think

Repeat Chorus It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought ... it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a funny way of helping you out when You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up In your face

It's a traffic jam when you're already late It's a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife It's meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife And isn't it ironic... don't you think A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think...

Repeat Chorus It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought ... it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out Helping you out

LITERARY TECHNIQUES - PARODY• A comic imitation of

a particular writer’s style. It is funny because it presents elements of the original in a humorous way

• The following poem, Icarus Allsorts is a parody of Sing a Song of Sixpence – it also a play on words alluding the Greek God Icarus

Sing a Song of Sixpence

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,

Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?

The king was in his counting house counting out his money,

The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey

The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,

When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!

Parody Irony and Satire

Icarus AllsortsRoger McGough

A little bit of heaven fell

From out the sky one day It landed in the oceanNot so very far away The general at the radar screen Rubbed his hands in glee And grinning pressed the button That started World War Three.

From every corner of the earth Bombs began to fly There were even missile jams No traffic lights in the skyIn the time it takes to blow your nose The people fell, the mushrooms rose.

'House!' cried the fat lady As the bingo hall moved to various

parts of the town'Raus!' cried the German butcheras his shop came tumbling down.

Phillip was in the counting house

Counting out his money

The Queen was in the parlour

Eating bread and honey

When through the window

Flew a bomb

And made them go all funny

In the time it takes to draw a breath

Or eat a toadstool, instant death.

Satire: The use of humour, parody and irony, to highlight the shortcomings of people, societies and nations with the intent to ridicule them.

The rich Huddled outside the doors of their fallout shelters Like drunken carol singers The poor Clutching shattered televisions And at last week's editions of T.V Times(but the very last) Civil defence volunteers With their tin hats in one hand And their heads in the other C.N.D supporters Their ban the bomb badges beginning to rust Have scrawled 'I told you so' in the dust .

A little bit of heaven fell From out of the sky one day It landed in Vermont North-eastern USA The general at the radar screen He should have got the sack But that wouldn't bring Three thousand million, seven hundred, and sixty-eight people back, Would it?