What is poetry?

From Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless

Themes

Poetry is…• One of the three major types of literature (the

others being prose and drama)• “Literature that makes use of highly concise,

musical, and emotionally charged language.”• May “make use of imagery, figurative language,

and special devices of sound such as rhyme.”• Often divided up into lines and stanzas with

regular rhythms or meters.

But really, what is poetry?

Poetry is a picture, painted with words. The poet is an artist and language is his color palette. At first glance, the picture may appear to be random brushstrokes, but when the eye looks more deeply, it sees the whole picture as it was meant to be seen.

Figure of speech—word or phrase that makes a comparison between seemingly unlike things.

He collapsed onto the grass like a half-empty flour sack.from “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst

You’ll come across figures of speech—or figurative language—in poetry, in prose, and in everyday speaking and writing.

Figures of Speech

Figures of speech

• are not literally true

• make imaginative connections

• express meaning in fresh and original ways

• often act as a kind of shorthand

Figures of Speech

Some figures of speech have become part of our everyday language. We don’t even think about the fact that they aren’t literally true.

He didn’t notice how quickly the time flew by.

My heart leapt at the thought.

She must have gotten tied up in traffic.

His room is a pigsty.

Figures of Speech

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Simile—comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles.

The dew on the leaves glistened as brilliantly as loose diamonds on silk.

That child’s eyes are warmer than the summer’s sandy beach.

A lone oak tree stood in the front yard like an aged but dedicated sentry.

Simile

Identify the two similes in this excerpt.

What meaning is expressed by each simile?

SimileQuick Check

My mother has the prettiest tricks

Of words and words and words.

Her talk comes out as smooth and sleek

As breasts of singing birds.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We had not dreamed these things were so

Of sorrow and of mirth.

Her speech is as a thousand eyes

Through which we see the earth.

—from “Songs for my Mother” by Anna Hempstead Branch

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Metaphor

• comparison between two unlike things in which one thing becomes the other

The flood waters rose, and the river became a ravenous monster. Raging on for hours, it consumed everything in its sight.

• does not use a word such as like or as

Metaphor

Poets use metaphors to make the reader think about new ways of seeing things.

My heart it was a floating birdThat through the world did wander free,But he hath locked it in a cage,And lost the silver key.

—from “The Prince” by Josephine Dodge Daskam

• What is the poet trying to say with this metaphor?

Metaphor

A direct metaphor directly compares two things using a verb such as is.

His ideas were a flock of birds in flight.

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An indirect metaphor implies or suggests the comparison.

His ideas spread their wings and soared freely.

Metaphor

Identify each metaphor as either direct or indirect.

Metaphor

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Quick Check

This computer is a dinosaur.

She stared at me with venomous eyes and hissed out her reply.

The old motorcycle barked and yipped before it started up with a howl.

Today my mind is the wind blowing across rolling hills.

Personification—special kind of metaphor in which human qualities are given to something that is not human—an animal, an object, or an idea.

The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might:

He did his very best to makeThe billows smooth and bright.

—from “The Walrus and the Carpenter” by Lewis Carroll

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Personification

Review

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Quick Check

Spring caresses the earth and sky with her warm, delicate hands.

Identify each figure of speech.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• PersonificationOur friendship is as comfortable as a pair of flannel pajamas.

The old factory had become a heaving, grunting beast.

Figures of speech are widely used. Look through a newspaper or magazine, including the advertisements, and gather at least six figures of speech. Look for examples of similes, metaphors, and personification.

Practice

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Page 352 of your textbook

“Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll‘Twas brillig and the slithy toves

did gyre and gimble in the wabe;All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!The jaws that bite, the claws that

catch!Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:Long time the manxome foe he

sought—So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought. And as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and throughThe vorpal blade went snicker-

snack!He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

“And has thou slain the Jabberwock?Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”He chortled in his joy.

‘Twas brillig and the slithy tovesdid gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.

Literary Term Interlude

• What is a stanza? (Hint: Refer to handout)

• How many stanzas make up “Jabberwocky”?

Discussion Questions

• Can you tell what the general idea of the poem is?

• What clues do you get from the poem as to the meaning?

• Even though many of these words are not familiar to you, why can you still get a general idea? Hint: Think structure.

Important Fact:

• This poem uses portmanteau words.

• A portmanteau word is an invented word; some are formed by blending two words into one.

• What two words form chortled?

• “O frabjous day!”• What two words might

be blended to form the word “frabjous”?

Grammar Mini-Lesson

• You can determine parts of speech for many of these portmanteau words by looking at their function and position in the sentence.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

Parts of speech:

Slithy:

Toves:

Gyre:

Gimble:

Wabe:

Grammar Continued

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

Parts of speech:Slithy: Adjective (modifies toves)Toves: Noun (probably an animal)Gyre: Verb (action done by the toves)Gimble: Verb (action done by the toves)Wabe: Noun (probably a place)

FUN ACTIVITY

• Get together in a group of three• Choose one person to highlight, one

to write, and one to read. • Highlight the made up words.• Rewrite the poem on notebook paper

using real words in place of the portmanteau words.

• Try to make the poem make sense.• Read your version aloud to the class.

Now that you know a bit more…

• Did everyone have similar “translation” versions?

• Whose version did you like the best?

• Which parts of the poem are serious?

• Funny?

Create an alphabetical glossary that defines and illustrates the use of each invented word in “Jabberwocky.” This assignment can be found on page 355 of your textbook.

Poetry Vocabulary List 1

1. Beguiling- tricking; charming

2. Desolate-deserted; abandoned

3. Languid- drooping; weak

4. Bafflement- puzzlement; bewilderment

5. Chortled- made a jolly, chuckling sound

6. Diverged- branched out in different directions

List One Continued

7. Pallid- pale

8. Depravity- crookedness; corruption

9. Respite- rest; relief

10.Quaint- strange; unusual (in an old-fashioned way)

Some types of poetry

• Lyric

–Sonnet

–Ode

• Narrative

–Ballad

–Epic

• Haiku

• Limerick• Elegy (see handout)

• Epigram (see handout)

What is a lyric poem?

• A lyric poem is highly emotional in nature.

• It expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet

• Lyric poetry has a musical feel to it and may resemble a song

Examples from your book:

“The Eagle,” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

(page 796)

Two Types of Lyric Poetry

Ode-Serious and thoughtful with a precise, formal structure.

Sonnet- 14 lines long, divided into two groups; English and Italian. (see handout for terms)– English- also called Shakespearean, composed

of three quatrains and a final couplet– Italian- also called Petrarchan, divided into two

quatrains and a six-line sestet.

Rhythm PowerPoint

“The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I

couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted

wear;Though as for that, the passing thereHad worn them really about the

same,

And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to

way,I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I

—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference

Questions to Ponder

• This poem is symbolic of a larger topic than simply walking down the road? What is that larger topic?

• What is the author’s tone?– Remember…tone is the author’s attitude

toward his subject

• What has made all the difference?

• What is the rhyme scheme?

Assignment

• Choose a song that you like and either copy it down by hand or print out the lyrics Make sure your poem adheres to the following guidelines:

• No obscenities or obscene references (songs with obscene references will result in a failing grade for this assignment)

• You should be able to find at least one example of figurative language such as metaphor, simile, symbolism, or imagery.

• Write 1 paragraph that details the meaning of the song and 1 that addresses the literary devices used. (Bonus points for extra literary devices)

Example:

• “Elephant Love Medley” from Moulin Rouge

• Personification• Metaphor

What is a narrative poem?

• A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story, such as Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky”

Two Types of Narrative Two Types of Narrative PoetryPoetry

BalladsBallads

A ballad is a poem A ballad is a poem that tells a story that tells a story similar to a folk similar to a folk tale or legend. tale or legend. Ballads often have Ballads often have repeated refrainsrepeated refrains

EpicsEpics

An epic is a long, An epic is a long, serious poem that serious poem that tells the story of a tells the story of a heroic figure. A heroic figure. A famous example of famous example of an epic poem is an epic poem is Homer’s Homer’s Odyssey. Odyssey. Stay tuned for Stay tuned for more on work.more on work.

Narrative Poem: “The Raven”

• Poet: Edgar Allan Poe

• Narrative poetry tells a story.

• Line by line, summarize the story told in “The Raven.” Page 832

Stanzas 1-4

• What is the narrator doing at the beginning of the story?

• What does he hear?• What is the time of

year?• Why is the narrator

sorrowful?• Who is Lenore?

• How does the narrator feel in stanza 3?

• What does he tell himself in order to calm down?

• What does he do in stanza 4?

Stanzas 5-10

• What word does the narrator hear upon opening the door?

• What does he tell himself that he is hearing?

• What does he see when he flings the shutter open?

• What literary device is used in line 41?

• What words does Poe use to create a suspenseful mood in stanza 8?

• What word does the raven continue to repeat?

Stanzas 11-18

• How does the speaker rationalize the raven’s behavior?

• In lines 79-84, what does the speaker determine is the raven’s purpose?

• What sudden change occurs in Line 85?

• What question is the speaker asking the bird?

• What is the raven’s answer to this question?

• What does the speaker want the raven to do in next to last stanza?

• How does the raven respond?

• How does the poem end?

SymbolismSymbolism

• Write at least two Write at least two paragraphs about paragraphs about what the raven might what the raven might symbolize and why symbolize and why Poe chose the raven Poe chose the raven instead of another instead of another bird. Be sure to give bird. Be sure to give details that support details that support your answer.your answer.

Journal Topic

Write about a time when you have been truly scared. How did it make you feel? Were you alone or with someone else? What were the circumstances? Be as detailed as possible.

Haiku

• A haiku is a Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables.

• Haiku often focus on nature.

• See page 419 of your textbook for examples

Limericks• A limerick is a light,

humorous poem of five lines with a rhyme scheme of aabba.

• Limericks usually have a specific rhythmic pattern

There once was a lady from Niger

Who smiled as she rode on a tiger

They returned from the ride

With the lady inside

And the smile on the face of the tiger

Other Examples of Limericks

It’s a classical poetry form

In which rhythm and rhyme must conform

but it gets no respect

which you’d clearly expect

Unless it decides to reform.

Your Turn

Literary Devices

• “Dream Deferred” (pg 798)

• “Dreams” (pg 799)

• “Summer” (pg 815)

• “I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud”

• Simile, imagery

• Metaphor

• Onomatopoeia

• Personification