An Introduction to

“POETRY is PROSE bewitcheda music MADE OF visual THOUGHTThe SOUND of an IDEA” -Mina Loy

POETRYa type of writing in which words

are chosen and arranged to create a strong feeling, message,

or image through meaning, sound, and rhythm.

StructureProse: Writing that uses sentencesExample:

Mad Hatter: “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?”“Have you guessed the riddle yet?” the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.“No, I give it up,” Alice replied: “What’s the answer?”“I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Hatter” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Lines: rows of words that do not always follow the rules of capitalization and punctuation that you see in other types of writing.

Example: who knows if the moon’sa balloon,coming out of a keen cityin the sky—filled with pretty people?(and if you and i should

get into it,if theyshould take me and take you into their baloon,e.e. cummings

Stanzas: groups of lines set apart by spaces, like a paragraphExample:The Tyger by William Blake

Tyger! Tyger! burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skiesBurnt the fire of thine eyes?On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand dare seize the fire?

Rhyme: describes words with the same sound ending.

Rhyme Scheme: certain lines follow a clear pattern.

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

Sound DevicesPoets play with the sounds of words to create certain effects.★ Rhythm★ Meter★ Repetition★ Alliteration

Rhythm

Stressed and unstressed syllables in a line

Meterrecurring pattern of stressed and unstressed syllablesEx: ………...1................... 2......................3........................4................... 5 Shall.I..|..com.PARE..|..thee.TO..|..a.SUM..|..mer’s DAY?

Repetition

repeating words or line to reinforce meaning or theme.

Ex:Busy as a BEE!

AlliterationRepetition of an initial consonant sound

Figurative Language

figure of speech used to create word pictures, or images. ★ simile★ metaphor★ Hyperbole★ onomatopoeia★ personification★ symbolism★ imagery

Simile: comparison that uses the words “like” or “as.”

★ Example: Her mood is as gloomy as a rainy day.

★ Explanation: Her mood is compared to a rainy day.

Metaphor: comparison that doesn’t use like or as.

Example: When Mariam complains, she is a squeaky wheel.

Explanation: Mariam is being compared to a squeaky wheel.

HyperboleFigure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or to create a comic effect

Example:★ That joke is so old; the last time I heard it I

was riding on a dinosaur.★ I am so hungry I could eat a horse.★ “It was so cold that I saw polar bears wearing

jackets”

Onomatopoeia Words that sound like their meaning.

Examples: ★ Boom★ Ring★ Sprinkle★ Squirt

Personification: when human qualities are assigned to non-human things.

★ Example: The wind roared through the alley.

★ Explanation: The wind sounded as if it were roaring.

Symbolism: the use of an object to stand for a thing or idea.

★ Example: The stars and stripes make me proud.

★ Explanation: The stars and stripes are a symbol of the United States.

Imagery: mental picture created by words that appeal to the five senses

★ Example: The lake was left

shivering by the touch of

morning wind.

★ Explanation: This is describing a

cold lake in the morning.

Point of View

is the position or outlook from which the speaker tells a story; he or she observes something.

Speaker: in a poem is like the narrator in a story.

Theme Message that the poet wants to share with readers.

Tone

Attitude toward the topic of the poem. Like happy or angry.

Forms of PoetryBy knowing forms, it will help you understand the poem before you read it. ★ ballad★ free verse★ lyric poem★ ode★ epic poem★ sonnet★ Limerick★ Haiku

Balladshort poem that tells a story and consists of stanzas of two to four lines and a refrain, or a series of lines that repeat.

Free Versea poem that does not follow any rules of rhythm or rhyme.

Lyric Poem

a short poem focused on the speaker’s thoughts or feelings, often similar to a song.

Odea poem that includes 2 or more stanzas with similar structures; each line must rhyme with another line in the same stanza; usually a serious poem about a meaningful topic

Epic Poema long poem that tells about the adventures of a hero or historic event, such as a great military victory.

Sonneta poem that has 14 lines with 10-12 syllables in each line. In many sonnets, an idea is developed throughout most of the poem, until the last two or six lines question that idea.

(the final lines are called the volta or turn)

LimerickA funny poem written with five lines. The first two lines and the last line all rhyme. The third and the fourth lines rhyme. It often begins with, “There once was...”

Haiku

A form of Japanese poetry that consists of three lines in which there are five, seven and five syllables per line and is usually about nature.