Poetry Terms 

Lesson One ­ Six REVIEW 
• Poetry 

• Creation of a Poem 
­ Theme / Purpose / Point of View 

• Mood & Tone 

• Form 
­ Acrostic / Limerick / Free Verse / Rhymed Verse / Haiku 

• Stanza structure 
­ Couplets / Tercets / Quatrains / Cinquains 

•Imagery from Figurative Language 
­ Personification / Idioms / Metaphor / Simile / Hyperbole 

• Poetic Devices 
­ Meter (Rhythm) / Rhyme / Rhyme Scheme / Alliteration / 
Consonance / Assonance / Puns
Poetry Terms
Lesson Seven
#2 Onomatopoeia
• Definition:
– words that sound like the
sound they are describing.

• Examples:
– BANG! ­ Buzz!
– Pop! ­ Click!
– Bonk! ­ Poof!
 Onomatopoeia
• Definition:
– words that sound like the sound they are
describing.

• Examples:
– BANG! ­ Buzz!
– Pop! ­ Click!
– Bonk! ­ Poof!
Onomatopoeia
• Let’s Try…
(give an onomatopoeia for each):

– Eggs: ______________________________

– Cars: ______________________________

– Clocks: ____________________________

– Mouth:_____________________________
Onomatopoeia ­ Example
Push Buttons
by Shel Silverstein

I push the light switch button and ­click­ the light goes on

I push the lawn mower button and ­voom­ it mows the lawn

I push the root beer button and ­whoosh­ it fills my cup.

I push the glove compartment button and ­clack­ it opens up

I push the TV button and ­zap­ there's Wyatt Earp.

I push my belly button . . .

BURP!
Onomatopoeia

The Rusty Spigot by Eve Merriam

The rusty spigot

sputters,
utters
a splutter,
spatters a smattering of drops,
gashes wider;
slash,
splatters,
scatters,
spurts,
finally stops sputtering
and plash!
gushes rushes splashes
clear water dashes.
Concrete Poetry
• Definition:
A poem that takes the shape of
the poem’s topic.

– The words of the poem are written in a

shape to show what the poem describes.

– Concrete poets make designs out of

letters and words.

– There are different kinds of concrete

poetry.
Concrete Poetry
The Takeoff
A click, a sputter, a whoosh­ to roar! line 1
A flick, a shudder, a push­ to soar! line 2
The wings held steady; the nose held high; line 3
The plane is ready to touch the sky! line 4

In order to do a concrete poem properly you MUST focus on the 
organization of your poem…
 Concrete Poetry
A click, a sputter, a whoosh­ to roar! line 1
A flick, a shudder, a push­ to soar! line 2
The wings held steady; the nose held high; line 3
The plane is ready to touch the sky! line 4

• In the first two lines, the words roar and soar rhyme.
• In the second two lines, the words high and sky rhyme.

• Lines one and two form the first couplet.

• Lines three and four form the second couplet.

These are then grouped on the page in such a way that it appears
the plane is
starting its engines,
moving down the runway
and then lifting up into the sky. Can you see it?
Concrete Poetry
The Takeoff 

A click, a sputter, a whoosh­ to roar!  line 1 
A flick, a shudder, a push­ to soar!  line 2 
The wings held steady; the nose held high;  line 3 
The plane is ready to touch the sky!  line 4
Concrete Poetry
Takeoff
Concrete Poetry
 # 3 Concrete Poetry

Look around for objects that have interesting forms or the patterns they create. 

Think about what you want to say or convey about your subject. 

What is interesting about your subject, is it the shape, smell, or taste? 

Make lists of words you might use to describe these different characteristics. 

Now play with the words to form a picture. 

Think about varying the words you use, the shape and sizes of letter forms 
& how to position them on the page.
Concrete Poetry
Those giant whale bones, 
they must weigh a tone, 
they're so big you would have 
to carry them in a truck. They 
can easily crush a car. 
Heeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaav 
vvvve hooooooooooe. 

CC the starfish lying on the 
water shimmering like the 
stars. Sticky little legs sticking 
to the rocks like an octopus. In 
comes a wave. Shells and 
stones go back into the sea but 
CC the starfish holds on tight. 
Shhhhhh.
Your homework assignment
• Create a rhyming onomatopoeia
poem (see following page for details)

• Create a rhyming concrete poem

(see following page for details)

Extra credit:
Create a second concrete poem
 Onomatopoeia Assignment
• You may choose any topic to write an
onomatopoeia poem.
– Your topic MUST be a thing.

• Write 6 rhyming couplets (minimum).

– Each couplet must have an
onomatopoeia
– Have fun with your sounds!

• Create your rough draft with a sketch of

your “thing”
– get it approved by Mr. Peglow.

• Create your polished copy on orange

computer paper (with the following…)
– A Title & by­line
– Pen or colored pencil
– A well drawn & colored illustration of an
image from your poem
 Concrete Poetry Assignment

Write  a Concrete Poem 
Create a 4 line (or more) poem in rhymed verse about an 
object of your choice. 

1. Choose an animal or an object. 

2. Visualize your object doing 3 things and write them down. 

3. Create the rough draft of the poem (with title and by­line) 

4. Lightly draw a simple outlined sketch of a that animal/object 

5. Write your poem (in lead pencil) over the top of your picture 
outline. 

6. Go over the top of your lead writing with pen. 

7. Rub out your pencil lines. 

8. Color the picture in.