Literature: Unseen Poetry SECONDARY 3

(TERM 1, WK 1 LESSON 1)

Agenda •Introduction to the Unseen (Poetry/Prose)

•Understanding Poetry & Prose

•Important Terms and Devices

•Riddle Poetry Exercise

•Conclusion

Unseen Poetry / Prose What is Prose?

Definition of Prose – the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure

Or to put it more briefly, it is a narrative, a story, a tale, a novel

Here’s some examples of some really short short stories:

Unseen Poetry / Prose What is Prose?

“Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time” – Alan Moore

“I love you more than diamonds she said over drinks. “Really?” he asked, fingering the unopened box in his pocket. Two month’s salary saved.” – Very Short Story@VeryShortStory

Unseen Poetry / Prose What is Prose?

Prose are stories which provide a narrative, involve characters (sometimes) and has a plot (most of the time).

Why is Prose important?

It is the basis that all stories are built on.

And why stories are important is because it is

what human knowledge and memory is built on. Stories.

We’ll revisit prose at a later date, for now let’s move onto Poetry.

Unseen Poetry / Prose What is poetry?

Definition of Poetry – the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts

Or to put it more briefly, a work of art created through the beauty, the sound of words

Here’s an example from Emily Dickinson about “Hope”

Unseen Poetry / Prose “Hope”

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops—at all—

- Emily Dickinson

Unseen Poetry / Prose Analysis of the poem “Hope”

What does the poem mean?

Hope is likened to a sort of animal

What sort of animal is it supposed to be?

A bird?

Why a bird?

What sort of ideas does a bird bring about?

Flight?

Freedom?

Is that what hope is?

The freedom to dream?

Unseen Poetry / Prose Analysis of Poetry/Prose

Those are the kind of questions you need to be asking about the Unseen.

What is a poem about?

What does it say/mean to you?

How does it do that?

All those questions and more are things and issues that will be discussed and addressed during the course of this year in the Literature classroom.

Important Terms to Note Quick Exercise:

Look at the following mindmap and take it down in your Literature Journals.

Important Terms to Note Mind map worksheet

Mind map 6 main ideas

Mind map answers

Important Terms to Note That’s the key terms you need to take note of as we study Poetry.

Your homework is to find out what each term means and note down the definitions. There’ll be a quiz on it sometime in the near future. :D

Riddle Poetry For now, we’ll move onto looking at other examples of poetry. In particular, Riddle Poetry.

Unseen Poetry / Prose Riddle Poetry

My twin points are bound by an iron bar.

I wrestle with wind, struggle with the sea.

I probe deep waters—I bite the earth.

--Symphosius

(Mining for Meaning [MOM, p.1])

So what is the poem about? Any ideas?

Answer: Anchor

Another riddle poem: Metaphors by Sylvia Plath

I’m a riddle in nine syllables,

An elephant, a ponderous house,

A melon strolling on two tendrils.

O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!

This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.

Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.

I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.

I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,

Boarded the train there’s no getting off.

What is the poem referring to?

Metaphors by Sylvia Plath I’m a riddle in nine syllables,

An elephant, a ponderous house,

A melon strolling on two tendrils.

O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!

This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.

Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.

I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.

I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,

Boarded the train there’s no getting off.

Questions? •Any questions about today’s lesson?

Conclusion • Today we learned about the following:

• The definition of Prose (what is it?)

• The definition of Poetry (what is it?)

• Focus on poetry • Important Terms and Concepts

• Riddle Poetry

• Homework: Find out the meaning of the various terms and concepts