English III

British Poetry

Poetry is…Lullaby, nursery rhyme, favorite song,

Shakespearian sonnet, limerickPoetry is different from prose in that it makes

the usual new and interesting. Poets achieve this effect by using poetic

devices.Imagery, figures of speech and sound effects.

Poetic Devices

Rhyme scheme- the pattern of rhymed lines in a poem.

It is indicated by giving each new rhyme a new letter in the alphabet.There was a time when meadow, grove, and

stream, aThe earth, and every common sight b

To me did seem aApparelled in celestial light, b

Poetic Elements

Slant rhymes- words sound similar but not exact

End rhyme- occurs at the end of rhymesInternal rhyme- occurs within the lines.Consonance- repetition of final consonant

sounds after different vowel sounds. Ex/east, west; dig, dog

Assonance- repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds in words that are close together. Ex/ “An abbot on an ambling pad,

Alliteration- repetition of consonant sounds in words close together. Ex/And with old woes new wail

Poetic Elements

MetaphorSimileRepetitionImageryHyperboleOxymoronParadoxIronyOnomatopoeia

Synecdoche- a part to represent the whole (wheels/car)

SpeakerInversionToneExtended metaphorMetaphysical conceit

Poetic Elements

ElegyVillanelleElizabethan sonnetItalian/Petrarchan

sonnetSpenserian sonnetBalladPastoral/anti-pastoralMetaphysical

Carpe diemCantoBlank verseFree verse

Types of Poems

Iambic: u / (repeat)Anapestic: u u/ (interrupt)Trochaic: /u (older)Dactylic: / u u (openly)Spondaic: / / (heartbreak)

Foot

A division of poetry named for the number of lines

Couplet- 2 linesTriplet- 3 linesQuatrain- 4 linesQuintet- 5 linesSestet- 6 linesSeptet- 7 linesOctave- 8 lines

Stanzas

A metric line of poetry. Named according to the kind an number of feet.

Monometer: 1 footDimeter: 2 feetTrimeter: 3 feetTetrameter: 4 feetPentameter: 5 feetHexameter: 6 feetHeptameter: 7 feetOctometer: 8 feet

Verse

Step 1: Choose 10 British poems you find interesting

Step 2: Copy them onto a sheet of paperStep 3: Annotate the poem! (go over handout

now)Step 4: From those 10, choose 5 you REALLY

likeStep 5: Write an analysis using the format

given (go over format now)- you will write 5 total

Step 6: Choose ONE poem you REALLY, REALLY like and practice reciting it…since you will do this for the class!

Step 7: Have fun! Poetry can be very cool if you let it.

Assessments

February 14/15- Choose all 10 poems; write on paper

February 16/17- Perform Macbeth!February 22/23- Annotate 5 poems, 1 analysis

completedFebruary 24/25- Annotate 7 poems, 2

analyses completedFebruary 28/Mar. 1- Turn in portfolio!/Review

elements/Recite poemsMar. 2/3- Quest

Due Dates:

By Dylan ThomasElegy- mourns the death of someone or

laments something lost.Lyric- poetry that focuses on expressing

emotions or thoughts, rather than telling a story.

Villanelle- 19 line poem divided into 5 tercets(3 line stanzas), each with the rhyme scheme aba, and a final quatrain with the rhyme scheme abaaLine 1 is repeated to form lines 6, 12, 18Line 3 is repeated to form lines 9, 15, 19

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

Title- Negative (do not); be aggressive (not gentle); specific (that); positive feeling(good); death (night)

Imperative- commanding “Do not!”Iambic pentameter; repetition of two end-

rhyme sounds….somber, musical quality.

Annotations

Aba rhyme schemeIambic pentameter (do not go gentle into that

good night)Possible subject: old age/night/dyingSubject should “rave and burn”; opposite of

gentle“close of day”/nightRepetition- Rage/rage (important…fighting

feeling)“dying of the light”/night/death?

Stanza 1

Wise men…subject of stanza 2? Should know death is normal.

What does “words had forked no lightening” mean?

It’s because of that forking they fight death. Hmmm.

Rhyme scheme: aba (again…soothing)Iambic pentameter again. Nice.Imagery: one bolt of lightening (no forking?) Words- lightening …possible metaphorRepetition of title/line 1…important message?

Stanza 2

Good men…subject of stanza 3?“last wave”/death, I’m sure. Bright deeds/good works? Powerful work?

Wait… “frail”…probably not powerful. Fragile, bright, danced…all positive words.

Green bay…earth? Gulf of Mexico? Bathtub? Probably earth.

Oh! Line 3 is line 9! Repetition…what kind of poem does that…hmmmm……

So “old age”, “wise men”, and “good men” all shouldn’t go gentle into that good night. Got it.

Stanza 3

Wild men…subject! “caught the sun”, “sang the sun in flight”…what?

Learn too late (that sounds sad…elegy); grief over line 10, but not sure what it means. Help!

Hey, line 12 is line 1! Awesome, I totally know what kind of poem this is. Also, I think the poet is trying to make a point. Hmmmm….

Stanza 4

Grave men…subject. Get it? “Grave”, night, death, dying….ha!

“who see with blinding sight”…hey, those words contradict each other…that’s a ____________.

“Who see with blind eyes” that sounds false but is really true…what the heck is that element?

Blinding sight blind eyes could blaze like meteors..ok, I see 3 elements in one line…bam!

How can you be blind and happy (yes, gay means happy)

Line 15 is line 9 repeated. Nice.

Stanza 5

Last one so I bet there’s a big finish coming.“my father”! Wait a second, is this the real

subject??“sad height”..I wonder if his dad was really tall.Line 17: curse me, bless me with fierce tears. He

is praying for this from his father. So, I guess his dad isn’t doing any of this, making the speaker sad. (2nd person narration, btw)

Line 18 is line 1,6,12 and the title.Line 19 is line 3,9 and 15.Awesome. I feel the sadness and frustration of the

poet. So sad. So great.

Stanza 6

Based on my annotation, I am going to write my analysis on the theme of resisting death.

Topic Sentence: The poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan

Thomas explores the theme of fighting death by living life. The repeated last lines of each stanza, “do not go gentle into that

good night” and “rage, rage against the dying of the light”(lines 3,6,9,12,15,19) create the needed emphasis on resisting death, supporting Thomas’ theme. Also, these lines are metaphors for death (good night/dying of the light). This figurative language provides the needed contrast to death , supporting the theme of living life.

By using the style of villanelle, Thomas uses these key lines to provide emphasis through repetition, enforcing his theme of resisting death.

Analysis