poetry introduction: poetry terms

Poetry Introduction:Poetry Terms

as dead as the dodoas dead as a doornailas different as chalk from cheeseas dry as a boneas dry as dustas dull as dishwateras flat as a pancakeas free as a birdas fresh as a daisyas gentle as a lambas good as goldas happy as a larkas hard as nails

What do all of these phrases have in common?

as dead as the dodoas deaf as a postas different as chalk from cheeseas dry as a boneas dry as dustas dull as dishwateras flat as a pancakeas free as a birdas fresh as a daisyas gentle as a lambas good as goldas happy as a larkas hard as nails

They're all SIMILES!

• Simile – a comparison of two unlike things; uses ‘like,’ ‘as,’ ‘resembles,’ and ‘than’

–Example – Red as a cherry; Looks like a million dollars

America is a melting pot.John is a real pig when he eats.My father is a rock.Her home was a prison.George is a sheep.He was a lion in battle.

What do all of these phrases have in common?

America is a melting pot.John is a real pig when he eats.My father is a rock.Her home was a prison.George is a sheep.He was a lion in battle.

They're all METAPHORS!

• Metaphor – a comparison of two unlike things; does NOT use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’

–Example – She is a treasure. He is a rock.

Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue.

Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid before they could be heard.

What do these sentences have in common?

Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue.

Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid before they could be heard.

They both use HYPERBOLE.

• Hyperbole – when the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect

–Example: I had a ton of homework; I have a million things to do

The candle flame danced in the dark.Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for duty.The moon turned over to face the day.As fall turned to winter, the trees found themselves wearing white.The brown grass was begging for water. Our society needs strong leaders.One unhappy icicle wasted away in the day.The sunflowers nodded in the windThe silence crept into the classroom.Father Time can always catch up to you, no matter how fast you run.This city never sleeps. The sun stretched its golden arms across the plains.

What do these sentences have in common?

The candle flame danced in the dark.Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for duty.The moon turned over to face the day.As fall turned to winter, the trees found themselves wearing white.The brown grass was begging for water. Our society needs strong leaders.One unhappy icicle wasted away in the day.The sunflowers nodded in the windThe silence crept into the classroom.Father Time can always catch up to you, no matter how fast you run.This city never sleeps. The sun stretched its golden arms across the plains.

The all use PERSONIFICATION!

• Personification – giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

–Example: The tree dance. The fire ran wild

It was dark and dim in the forest.The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric.The fresh and juicy oranges are very cold and sweet. Bella grasped Edward's icy hand.The audience erupted in applause as a result of the play.

What do these sentences have in common?

It was dark and dim in the forest.The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric.The fresh and juicy oranges are very cold and sweet. Bella grasped Edward's icy hand.The audience erupted in applause as a result of the play.

They all use IMAGERY!

• Imagery – words and phrases that appeal to a reader’s five senses

–Example – The freezing wind brushed my face; the smell of dinner was near.

Dog goes woof.Cat goes meow.Bird goes tweet,and mouse goes squeak.Cow goes moo.Frog goes croak,and the elephant goes toot.Ducks say quack,and fish go blub,and the seal goes ow ow ow.

What do these lines have in common?

Dog goes woof.Cat goes meow.Bird goes tweet,and mouse goes squeak.Cow goes moo.Frog goes croak,and the elephant goes toot.Ducks say quack,and fish go blub,and the seal goes ow ow ow.

They all contain ONOMATOPOEIA!

Onomatopoeia – the use of words whose sounds echo their meanings

–Example: buzz, whisper, murmur, vroom, squish

Why would authors use the examples of figurative language we have defined?

AlliterationThe repetition of similar

sounds

Consonance

Consonance – repetition of consonant sounds

Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

Tongue twisters!

Rhyme Scheme

End Rhyme Free-verse

End rhyme – poetry that rhymes at the end of each line

Free verse – poetry that does not rhyme

Repetition – the use of a word, phrase, or line more than once in a poem

Why would authors use the form examples we defined?

Poetry Writing Activity IStep 1: Select four of the poetry devices we defined. Write these four down in your composition book.SimileMetaphorHyperbolePersonificationImageryOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConsonanceEnd RhymeFree VerseRepetition

Poetry Writing Activity IStep 2: Select an animal. If you have trouble, pick one from the following list: lion, tiger, raven, snake, or whale.

Poetry Writing Activity IStep 3: For each device you selected, provide an original example.

Example: Animal: LionSimile: The lion stormed through the wispy savannah

grass like a streak of blazing lightning.

Hyperbole: The snarling lion roared so viciously, the dirt beneath my feet began to

quake.

Personification: The golden lion laughed with joy upon seeing me tremble.

Alliteration: The lazy lion languidly laid by the lake.

Poetry Writing Activity IStep 4: Now, take all four of these devices, and work them into a piece of flash fiction (a really short story). This is how writers use figurative language in their writing.