PoetryPoetry

What is PoetryWhat is PoetryPoetry is a form of playing with Poetry is a form of playing with words by using the imaginationwords by using the imagination

Poets play with words, rhymes, and Poets play with words, rhymes, and rhythmsrhythms

Playing with meaning is Playing with meaning is Punning Punning (a (a play on the multiple meanings of a play on the multiple meanings of a word, or on two words that sound word, or on two words that sound alike, but have different meanings)alike, but have different meanings)

How to Read a Poem:How to Read a Poem:Look for punctuation indicating Look for punctuation indicating where sentences begin and end.where sentences begin and end.

Do not stop at the end of a line Do not stop at the end of a line unless there is punctuation, which unless there is punctuation, which tells you to do so.tells you to do so.

Look up words you don’t Look up words you don’t understand.understand.

Watch for comparisons.Watch for comparisons.

Read the poem aloud—hear with your Read the poem aloud—hear with your ears, understand with your mind, ears, understand with your mind, feel with your heart.feel with your heart.

Figurative LanguageFigurative LanguageFigurative language is a literary Figurative language is a literary phrase that is not meant to be phrase that is not meant to be interpreted literally; it is to be interpreted literally; it is to be interpreted imaginatively.interpreted imaginatively.

It is used to create vivid It is used to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind to pictures in the reader’s mind to make writing emotionally intense.make writing emotionally intense.

It is used to state ideas in new It is used to state ideas in new and unusual ways to satisfy the and unusual ways to satisfy the reader’s imagination.reader’s imagination.

ImageryImagery

A single word or a phrase that A single word or a phrase that appeals to one of our sensesappeals to one of our senses

Sometimes it can help us hear Sometimes it can help us hear sounds, smell an odor, feel sounds, smell an odor, feel texture or temperature, or even texture or temperature, or even taste a sweet, sour, or salty taste a sweet, sour, or salty flavorflavor

Ethelbert Miller’s “heart on fire”Ethelbert Miller’s “heart on fire”

heart on fireheart on fire

I am alone andI am alone and

burningburning

SimileSimile

Two dissimilar things clearly Two dissimilar things clearly compared by words such as compared by words such as like, like, as, than, as, than, or or resembles.resembles.

EX: Her feet felt like ice.EX: Her feet felt like ice.

MetaphorsMetaphorsA comparison between two things A comparison between two things without the use of the word without the use of the word like, as, like, as, thanthan or or resemblesresembles..Direct metaphorDirect metaphor– Compares the two things by the use of a Compares the two things by the use of a verb such as iverb such as iss..

– The city is a sleeping woman.The city is a sleeping woman.

Implied metaphorImplied metaphor– Implies or suggests the comparison Implies or suggests the comparison between the two things, without using between the two things, without using isis..

– The city sleeps peacefully.The city sleeps peacefully.

Langston Hughes’ “Harlem”Langston Hughes’ “Harlem”What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry upDoes it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore—Or fester like a sore—And then run?And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over—Or crust and sugar over—like a syrupy sweet?like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagsMaybe it just sagslike a heavy load.like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?Or does it explode?

Simile vs. MetaphorSimile vs. Metaphor

In a simile, the two subjects In a simile, the two subjects remain separate.remain separate.– My head is like a disorganized My head is like a disorganized file cabinet.file cabinet.

In a metaphor, the two subjects In a metaphor, the two subjects remain united.remain united.– My head is a disorganized file My head is a disorganized file cabinet.cabinet.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeiaFitting the sound of the words Fitting the sound of the words to the sense of the words.to the sense of the words.EX: a gun bangs, canon booms, EX: a gun bangs, canon booms, bacon sizzles, roosters cock-bacon sizzles, roosters cock-a-doodle-do.a-doodle-do.A single word echoes a natural A single word echoes a natural sound or a mechanical sound.sound or a mechanical sound.Can you think of any other Can you think of any other examples?examples?

AlliterationAlliterationTwo or more words with the Two or more words with the same initial sound.same initial sound.

EX: EX: mmoney oney mmad, ad, hhot and ot and hheavy, eavy, ddog og ddays, ays, ddrip rip ddry, ry, wwas and as and wwear, ear, rready and eady and rraring to go.aring to go.

Can also be the repetition of Can also be the repetition of similar sounds.similar sounds.

Example:Example:

While I While I nnodded, odded, nnearly early nnapping.” Poe’s “The Raven”apping.” Poe’s “The Raven”

Over the Over the ccobbles he obbles he cclatteredlattered and and cclashedlashed in the dark inn in the dark inn yard.yard.

““The Highwayman”The Highwayman”

PersonificationPersonification

A special kind of metaphor in A special kind of metaphor in which we give human qualities which we give human qualities to something that is not humanto something that is not human– A crying heartA crying heart– The angry storm The angry storm

Consonance vs. AssonanceConsonance vs. AssonanceConsonance: the repetition of the same Consonance: the repetition of the same consonant sound in several words.consonant sound in several words.

EX: “The EX: “The ssilken ilken ssad unad uncercertain tain rustlingrustling of each of each purple curtainpurple curtain.” .” PoePoe

Assonance: the repetition of vowel Assonance: the repetition of vowel sounds in a sequence of words with sounds in a sequence of words with different endings different endings

EX: “The dEX: “The deaeath of the poth of the poeet was kt was keept pt from his pofrom his poeems.” Audenms.” Auden

ConnotationConnotation

What is suggested by a word, What is suggested by a word, apart from what it explicitly apart from what it explicitly describes.describes.

Ex: Her face was very red.Ex: Her face was very red.

Is she embarrassed? Angry? Hot?Is she embarrassed? Angry? Hot?

Justin skipped down the hall.Justin skipped down the hall.

What might this connote?What might this connote?

Sounds of PoetrySounds of PoetryRhythm: A musical quality produced by Rhythm: A musical quality produced by the repetition of stressed and the repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables, or by the unstressed syllables, or by the repetition of certain other sound repetition of certain other sound patterns in poetrypatterns in poetry

1. meter1. meter

2. free verse2. free verse

3. rhyme3. rhyme

4. repetition of words, phrases, and 4. repetition of words, phrases, and sentencessentences

DenotationDenotation

A word’s literal and primary A word’s literal and primary meaning, independent of any meaning, independent of any connotationsconnotations. .

The “dictionary definition of a The “dictionary definition of a word.word.

MeterMeter

Poetry that is written in meter Poetry that is written in meter has a regular pattern of stressed has a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each and unstressed syllables in each line.line.

EX: “Simon the Cyrenian Speaks”EX: “Simon the Cyrenian Speaks”

He never spoke a word to me,He never spoke a word to me,

And yet He called my name;And yet He called my name;

He never gave a sign to me,He never gave a sign to me,

And yet I knew and came.And yet I knew and came.

Free VerseFree VerseFree verse is poetry that is “free” Free verse is poetry that is “free” of regular meter—that is, free of a of regular meter—that is, free of a strict pattern. Free verse is very strict pattern. Free verse is very similar to prose, but it is only similar to prose, but it is only free in the sense that it is free in the sense that it is liberated from the formal rules liberated from the formal rules governing meter. Poets still pay governing meter. Poets still pay very close attention to the rhythmic very close attention to the rhythmic rise and fall of the voice, to rise and fall of the voice, to pauses, and to the balances between pauses, and to the balances between long and short phrases. long and short phrases.

EnjambmentEnjambmentFrench for “striding over”French for “striding over”

A poetic expression that spans more A poetic expression that spans more than one line. Lines exhibiting than one line. Lines exhibiting enjambment do not end with enjambment do not end with grammatical breaks, and their sense grammatical breaks, and their sense is not complete without the is not complete without the following line(s).following line(s).

Distinguished from Distinguished from end-stopped end-stopped lineslines, where the physical end of the , where the physical end of the line coincides with the punctuation. line coincides with the punctuation.

Enjambment cont.Enjambment cont.

EX: sonnet by WordsworthEX: sonnet by Wordsworth

It is a beauteous evening, calm It is a beauteous evening, calm and and free,free,

The holy time is quiet as a NunThe holy time is quiet as a Nun

Breathless with adoration; the Breathless with adoration; the broad broad sunsun

Is sinking down in its Is sinking down in its tranquility.tranquility.

RhymeRhymeRhyme is the repetition of the Rhyme is the repetition of the sound of a stressed syllable and sound of a stressed syllable and any syllables that follow.any syllables that follow.

1.1. Approximate rhyme (slant rhyme, Approximate rhyme (slant rhyme, imperfect rhyme): repeat only some imperfect rhyme): repeat only some sounds-hollow/mellow or look/backsounds-hollow/mellow or look/back

2.2. Internal rhyme: occurs inside a Internal rhyme: occurs inside a line of poetry-line of poetry-

““Ah, distinctly I remember it was in Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.” (Poe)its ghost upon the floor.” (Poe)

Diction and ToneDiction and ToneTone is not easy to define because Tone is not easy to define because it is a quality of language that it is a quality of language that tends to be tends to be suggestedsuggested rather than rather than stated.stated.

ToneTone is a speaker’s attitude-- is a speaker’s attitude--toward a subject or toward an toward a subject or toward an audience.audience.

Tone can be sarcastic, teasing, Tone can be sarcastic, teasing, critical, serious, playful, angry, critical, serious, playful, angry, admiring, ironic, and so on.admiring, ironic, and so on.

Diction and Tone cont.Diction and Tone cont.When we speak out loud, we reveal When we speak out loud, we reveal tone by using our voice and even tone by using our voice and even body gestures.body gestures.

EX: Look at the following EX: Look at the following sentences.sentences.School starts next week. (sincere)School starts next week. (sincere)

School starts next week? (disbelieving)School starts next week? (disbelieving)

School starts next week. (excited)School starts next week. (excited)

School starts next week. (disgusted)School starts next week. (disgusted)

Diction and Tone cont.Diction and Tone cont.When a poem is printed on a When a poem is printed on a page, we can’t hear its tone, page, we can’t hear its tone, but it still conveys one through but it still conveys one through dictiondiction or word choice (remember or word choice (remember connotation).connotation).Rhythms and rhymes can also Rhythms and rhymes can also convey tone. If we hear a convey tone. If we hear a lively, bouncy rhythm and jingly lively, bouncy rhythm and jingly rhymes, the poet is probably not rhymes, the poet is probably not taking a solemn tone.taking a solemn tone.

Subject vs. ThemeSubject vs. ThemeThe theme is the central idea of a The theme is the central idea of a work of literature. A theme is not work of literature. A theme is not the same as a “subject.” The subject the same as a “subject.” The subject of a work can usually be expressed in of a work can usually be expressed in a word or two: love, childhood, a word or two: love, childhood, death. The theme is the idea the death. The theme is the idea the writer wishes to convey about that writer wishes to convey about that subject. The theme must be expressed subject. The theme must be expressed in a statement or sentence: love is in a statement or sentence: love is more powerful than family loyalty. A more powerful than family loyalty. A work’s theme is not usually stated work’s theme is not usually stated directly. directly.

SpeakerSpeakerThe voice who is talking to us in a The voice who is talking to us in a poem. Sometimes the speaker is poem. Sometimes the speaker is identical to the poet, but often the identical to the poet, but often the speaker and the poet are not the speaker and the poet are not the same. The poet may be speaking as a same. The poet may be speaking as a child, a woman, a man, a whole child, a woman, a man, a whole people, an animal, or even an objectpeople, an animal, or even an object

See Dickenson’s “A Narrow Fellow in See Dickenson’s “A Narrow Fellow in the Grass and Marquis’s “Lesson of the Grass and Marquis’s “Lesson of the Moth”the Moth”