Introduction to Poetry

1
Introduction to Poetry

• Literary Terms and Techniques

2
Poetically Speaking

• Poetry is the art of substantiating
  shadows.Edmund Burke
• We use poetry to take things that are abstract
  and make them tangible with words.
• Poetry uses descriptive language along with
  figures of speech to create mental pictures.
  Its like art for the mind.

3
Basic Literary Terminology for Poetry
4
Figures of Speech

• Figures of speech are expressions such as
  metaphors, similes, and personifications that
  make comparisons or associations meant to be
  taken imaginatively rather than literally.

5
Simile

• A figure of speech that uses like, as, or as if
  to compare two essentially different objects,
  actions, or attributes that share some aspect of
  similarity. In contrast to a metaphor, in which
  a comparison is implied, a simile expresses a
  comparison directly.
• Example Her words were like gunfire, exploding
  with every blow.

6
Metaphor

• A figure of speech, an implied analogy in which
  one thing is imaginatively compared to or
  identified with another, dissimilar thing.
• Example grass- the beautiful uncut hair of
  graves (Walt Whitman)

7
Oxymoron

• A figure of speech in which two contradictory
  words or phrases are combined in a single
  expression, giving the effect of a condensed
  paradox.
• Examples wise fool living death silent
  screams heavy lightness

8
Personification

• A figure of speech in which human characteristics
  and sensibilities are attributed to animals,
  plants, inanimate objects, natural forces, or
  abstract ideas.

9
Example of Personification

• The moon was but a chin of gold,
• A night or two ago,
• And now she turns her perfect face
• Upon the world below
• By Emily Dickinson

10
A Starter Template for Energy Wheel Poem

• (Emotion) is (Color) like ____________ and also
  like__________ it (Verb) through my (place)
• It reminds me of the time_____________
• It makes me feel_______ like_________
• It makes me want to___________

11
Synesthesia

• This is the mixing of the senses in poetry
• Sometimes, it is when the senses are crossed.
• Abstract nouns or ideas that have to texture or
  smell can gain it through the use of synesthesia
  in poetry

12
A few tips for using Synesthesia

• Try to create ideas using the senses that are
  impossible or fantasy.
• There is no right answers, but the reader should
  be able to experience a connection.
• You are expected to use fresh ideas that are
  different and unexpected. Use care in choosing
  the right words to create your sense-mixing.

13
Synesthesia or What Blue Sounds Like

• See Read magazine, April 1, 2011, issue, page
  20-21
• Try out the activity on pg 21. Prepare to share.

14
Like What poem sample

• Fairness is gray
• It is neither black nor white
• It is warm like a sunny spring day
• Cool like room temperature water
• Sounds like an umpire calling a foul ball
• Tastes like justice
• Smells like victory
• Looks like two friends sharing recognition
• It feels smooth like a well-earned certificate
• It moves like a calm ocean wave
• -Collaborative Class Poem, April 2009

15
Poem Templates
16
Like what poem (Synesthesisa)

• (Emotion or Abstract idea) is (color)
  like________
• (hot) like
• (cold) like
• sounds like
• tastes like
• smells like
• looks like
• (texture) like
• moves like

17
Self-Portrait Poem

• My_________is like__________
• My __________are like_________
• My _________ are_________
• My_________ is___________
• My heart holds_______that is______ as ________
• I live in_________
• and eat___________

18
The Sounds of Poetry

• More Literary Terms and Techniques

19
Assonance

• a close repetition of middle vowel sounds, like
  the o sound in words like roses and golden or
  the e sound in sleep and green. Use in poetry
  for unity or rhythmic effect.

20
Consonance

• The close repetition of identical consonant
  sounds before and after differing vowel sounds.
  Uses the same final consonant sound, like
  up/drip, pain/bone, leave/love, or short/shirt.

21
Alliteration

• The repetition of consonant sounds at the
  beginning of words or within words such as after
  lifes fitful fever. Used to create unity,
  emphasis, and musical effect. Commonly used in
  nonsense verse, jingles, and tongue twisters.

22
Example of Alliteration

• Betty Botter bought some butter
• But, said she, the butters bitter.

23
Onomatopoeia

• Words whose sound imitates the sound of the thing
  being named such as boom, whoosh, pop, hum, buzz,
  clang, hiss, crack, and twitter.

24
Example of Onomatopeoia

• The murmuring haunt of flies on summer eves.
• And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each
  purple curtain.
• The moan of doves in immemorial elms.
• And murmuring of innumerable bees.
• Tis the night of doom said the ding-dong
  doom-bells.

25
(No Transcript)