Notes on Poetry

Elements of Poetry :Elements of Poetry Poets have many tools they use to add
to the poem’s sound, meaning, and emotional effect on the reader.

Slide 2:Poetry is the art of expressing one’s thoughts in verse. It uses few words
to convey its message. It is meant to be read aloud. Poetry arouses our
emotions. Poems use imagery or figures of speech to explain feelings or to
create a mental picture or idea. These suggest action or mood. Many poems
have a specific rhyme scheme. Poems can rhyme or not rhyme.

Lines :Lines “To a Snowflake” 1 Hello little snowflake! 2 Where are all your
friends? 3 Should I expect a lot of them 4 before the morning ends? 5 I love it
when you come to me 6 and you all fall down together, 7 and I get dressed to
visit you, 8 toasty warm in cold, cold weather. A single line in a poem. Often
organized into stanzas. 2 lines is a couplet. 3 lines is a triplet or tercet. 4 lines is
a quatrain. 5 lines is a quinrain or a cinquain. 6 lines is a sestet. 8 lines is a octet.
The poem above has 8 lines. The lines are organized into quatrains.

Stanza :Stanza A group of lines. Often have 4, 5, or 6 lines. 2 line stanzas are
called couplets. Usually develops one idea. Give poems structure. Emphasize
different ideas. Beginning a new stanzas often signals the beginning of a new
image, thought, or idea. Four Stanzas in Couplets 1 2 3 4 Each Stanza Signals a
New Image “First and Last” by David McCord A tadpole hasn’t a pole at all, And
he doesn’t live in a hole in the wall. You’ve got it wrong: a polecat’s not A cat on
a pole. And I’ll tell you what: A bullfrog’s never a bull; and how Could a cowbird
possibly be a cow? A kingbird, though, is a kind of king, And he chases a crow
like anything.

Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme :Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme “Ten Minutes Till the
Bus” by David L. Harrison Ten whole minutes Till the bus, Scads of time, What’s
the fuss? Two to dress, One to flush, Two to eat, One to brush, That leaves four
To catch the bus, Scads of time, What’s the fuss? Words rhyme when they have
the same sound. Poems often use rhyme at the end of lines. Rhyme scheme is a
pattern of rhymes in a poem. Poets use rhyme to add a musical sound to their
poems. A A B B A A

Rhythm :Rhythm Pattern of beats or a series of stressed and unstressed

syllables in poem. Poets create rhythm by using words in which parts are
emphasized or not emphasized. The yellow highlighted parts of the poem show
what’s stressed. Whenever the wind is high Stressed = Unstressed = from
“Windy Nights” By Robert Louis Stevenson Whenever the moon and stars are
set, Whenever the wind is high, All night long in the dark and wet, A man goes
riding by. Late in the night when the fires are out, Why does he gallop and gallop
about?

Free Verse :Free Verse “Blossoms” by Walter Dean Myers I never dreamt that
tender blossoms would be brown Or precious angels could come down to live in
the garden of my giving heart But here you are brown angel Poetry written
without a regular rhyme, rhythm, and form. Sounds natural, just like everyday
conversation. Poets use free verse because it allows them to experiment with the
shapes and sounds in their poetry. No rhyme or regular rhythm

Alliteration :Alliteration Repetition of the same consonant sound at the

beginning of several words or sentences or a line of poetry. Poets use alliteration
to make their poetry musical and more interesting. Same Beginning Sounds
“Surf” by Lillian Morrison Waves want to be wheels, They jump for it and fail fall
flat like pole vaulters and sprawl arms outstretched foam fingers reaching.

Imagery :Imagery Language that appeals to the 5 senses. Are “word pictures”.
Helps the reader to experience familiar things in a fresh way using the senses.
Strong Image Sensory Words Uses Senses Sound Smell Taste Touch Sight
“There is a Thing” by Jack Prelutsky There is a thing beneath the stair with slimy
face and oily hair that does not move or speak or sing or do another single thing
but sit and wait beneath the stair with slimy face and oily hair.

Exaggeration :Exaggeration Describe something as larger or wildly different

than it actually is. Poets use exaggeration to create a mental picture and spark a
reader’s imagination. “Beetles” by Monica Shannon Beetles must use polish,
They look so new and shiny! Just like a freshly painted car, Except for being tiny.
Poet stretches the truth about how beetles become shiny to make readers smile
and to create greater interest in these insects.

Simile :Simile Comparison between 2 things, using the words like or as. Poets
use comparisons between things to make you think about them in a new way.
Used to surprise the reader and to create strong images. Comparisons trees to
hair a city to a heart car horns beeping to buttons grass to a person bird to a
piccolo “The World” by Noel Berry The trees are like the hair of the world. The
city is like the heart of the world. The wind is a flute player playing in the night.
The cars beeping horns are like buttons beeping inside the earth. Each bird is
like a single piccolo singing away and the grass, just like me, being buried under
the snow.

Metaphor :Metaphor Direct comparison between 2 things. Does NOT use the
words like or as. Poet describes a thing or person as if it actually were the other
thing or person. Creates a clear, memorable picture and tries to get you to see
the original subject in a new way. Comparison of life to a bird Comparison of life
to a field “Dreams” by Langston Hughes Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when
dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Onomatopoeia :Onomatopoeia “The Fourth” by Shel Silverstein Oh CRASH! my

BASH! it’s BANG! the ZANG! Fourth WHOOSH! Of BAROOM! July WHEW! Use
of words that sound like the noises they describe. Poets choose words not just
for what they mean, but what they sound like. Poets use onomatopoeia to liven
up their writing and add fun sounds to it. On the Fourth of July you hear: Crashes
Bashes Bangs Zangs Whooshs Barooms Whews

Personification :Personification Type of figure of speech that gives human

qualities to animals, objects, or ideas. Adds life to a poem and helps the reader
view a familiar thing in a new way. “Snowy Benches” by Aileen Fisher Do parks
get lonely in winter, perhaps, when benches have only snow on their laps? Parks
have feelings and benches have laps. The poet asks whether the parks feel
lonely in winter, like people sometimes do.

Idiom :Idiom An everyday saying that doesn’t exactly mean what the words say.
Poet’s use idioms because that’s the way people talk to each other. Example:
“easy as pie” means you are able to do something without difficulty “Last Night”
by David L. Harrison Last night I knew the answers. Last night I had them pat.
Last night I could have told you Every answer, just like that! Last night my brain
was cooking. Last night I got them right. Last night I was a genius. So where
were you last night! “I had them pat” - knowing something well. “My brain is
cooking” - it was working fast and bubbling over with ideas.

Symbol :Symbol “The Farmer” By Carole Boston Weatherford A plot of weeds,

An old grey mule. Hot sun and sweat On a bright Southern day. Strong, stern
papa Under a straw hat, Plowing and planting His whole life away. His backbone
is forged Of African Iron And red Georgia clay. Something that stands for
something more than just itself. Suggests another larger meaning. Example: the
American flag is a symbol of freedom. The farmer is a symbol of the proud
African culture and the South. “African Iron” and “red Georgia clay” describe the
farmer, but link him to his African ancestors in Africa and his fellow southerners.

Mood :Mood Feeling that a poem creates in the reader. Can be positive or
negative. Poet creates the mood with the length of sentences, the words chosen,
punctuation, and the sounds of the words. Short words and lines create a serious
mood. Words create a feeling of sadness. “Poor” by Myra Livingston I heard of
poor. It means hungry, no food. No shoes, no place to live, Nothing good. It
means winter nights And being cold, It is lonely, alone. Feeling old. Poor is a
tired face. Poor is thin. Poor is standing outside Looking in.

Tone :Tone Attitude a writer takes toward the subject or audience of a poem.
The subject of the poem is crocodiles. The author’s attitude towards crocodiles is
that they are dangerous. “The Crocodile” How doth the little crocodile Improve
his shining tail, And pour the water of the Nile On every golden scale! How
cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little
fishes in With gently smiling jaws!

Identify the Elements of Poetry :Identify the Elements of Poetry 1. Use the
poetry books and/or poem handouts to find an example of each element of
poetry. 2. Share your examples with your teams/partners. 3. Be prepared to
share your examples with the class. Make sure you can explain why each
example fits an element of poetry.