POETRYPOETRY

Poetry…is truth in its Sunday Poetry…is truth in its Sunday clothes.clothes.

"A good poem is a contribution to reality. "A good poem is a contribution to reality.

The world is never the same once a The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it.good poem has been added to it.A good poem helps to change the A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone's knowledge of himself and everyone's knowledge of himself and the world around him."the world around him." -- Dylan Thomas-- Dylan Thomas

What does a poet look like?What does a poet look like?

A poet can look like anyoneA poet can look like anyone

• A poet is just somebody who A poet is just somebody who feelsfeels and and expressesexpresses their feelings through their feelings through words.words.

• The life you are living is as The life you are living is as meaningful to you as any famous meaningful to you as any famous poet’s life.poet’s life.

• You’re a poet even though you didn’t You’re a poet even though you didn’t know itknow it

So why is this poem so So why is this poem so famous?famous?

The fog comesThe fog comeson little cat feet. on little cat feet.

It sits lookingIt sits lookingover harbor and cityover harbor and city

on silent hauncheson silent haunchesand then moves on.and then moves on.

...and this one?...and this one?

Hold fast to dreamsHold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieFor if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged birdLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly. That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreamsHold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.Frozen with snow.

The keys are:The keys are:

• A poet uses beautiful, colourful A poet uses beautiful, colourful language to make the subject of the language to make the subject of the poem come alive to the reader.poem come alive to the reader.

• A poet is thrifty with words and A poet is thrifty with words and chooses them carefullychooses them carefully

• Poetry is… word paintingPoetry is… word painting

• Poets create images in your mind’s Poets create images in your mind’s eyeeye

How do poets create How do poets create images?images?

• Poets uses literary forms also known Poets uses literary forms also known as figures of speech or figurative as figures of speech or figurative language.language.

• They are also found in the stories you They are also found in the stories you read…you’ve probably just never read…you’ve probably just never noticed them before. noticed them before.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

• Usually uses a comparison or an Usually uses a comparison or an exaggeration to make a point.exaggeration to make a point.

• For example: He is as sharp as a For example: He is as sharp as a tack.tack.

Literal LanguageLiteral Language

• Means exactly what it saysMeans exactly what it says

• He is as sharp as a tack would mean He is as sharp as a tack would mean he has a very pointed head.he has a very pointed head.

Figurative or literal Figurative or literal language?language?

• The airliner roared down the main The airliner roared down the main runway.runway.

• The airliner took off from the main The airliner took off from the main runway.runway.

• The crowd of students melted away The crowd of students melted away from the principal.from the principal.

• The crowd of students dispersed when The crowd of students dispersed when the principal came.the principal came.

Figurative or literal Figurative or literal language?language?

• The yellow and brown leaves The yellow and brown leaves announced the arrival of fall.announced the arrival of fall.

• The leaves turned yellow and brown The leaves turned yellow and brown at the beginning of fall.at the beginning of fall.

• The driving wind punished the plants.The driving wind punished the plants.

• The driving wind damaged the The driving wind damaged the plants.plants.

Your first literary weapon, the Your first literary weapon, the similesimile

• Often when you’re trying to describe Often when you’re trying to describe something it helps to compare it with something it helps to compare it with something elsesomething else

• When you compare two things When you compare two things using the words LIKE or AS you using the words LIKE or AS you are using a simileare using a simile

• Ex. She sings like a canaryEx. She sings like a canary

Watch out!!!!!! For…the Watch out!!!!!! For…the clichécliché

• Some similes have been used so Some similes have been used so frequently they have become clichésfrequently they have become clichés

• As red as a _______As red as a _______

• As green as the ______As green as the ______

• As quiet as a ________As quiet as a ________

• As brittle as _______As brittle as _______

Some of my favourite Some of my favourite similes:similes:

• A heart as cold A heart as cold asas coal coal• The cold stabbed The cold stabbed likelike a driven nail a driven nail• Her face looked awful Her face looked awful likelike a rained a rained

on waffleon waffle• The frog had feet The frog had feet likelike water lilies water lilies• As black As black asas a Halloween night a Halloween night• LikeLike coins between a dying miser's coins between a dying miser's

fingers. fingers.

Try it outTry it out

• As sharp as…As sharp as…

• As talkative as…As talkative as…

• He has eyes like…He has eyes like…

• The ballerina dances likeThe ballerina dances like

• As green as…As green as…

• As white as…As white as…

Choose one and create your Choose one and create your own exampleown example

• Fog is as thick as…Fog is as thick as…

• I am as hungry as…I am as hungry as…

• Mountains are like…Mountains are like…

• Skyscrapers are like…Skyscrapers are like…

• The machine was as quick as…The machine was as quick as…

• Lions roar like…Lions roar like…

And now, the simile’s big And now, the simile’s big brother, the brother, the metaphormetaphor

A winter's dayA winter's dayIn a deep and dark December;In a deep and dark December;I am alone,I am alone,Gazing from my window to the streets Gazing from my window to the streets belowbelowOn a freshly fallen silent shroud of On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.snow.I am a rockI am a rock,,I am an islandI am an island. .

The The metaphormetaphor

• A metaphor is a literary device that compares two A metaphor is a literary device that compares two unlike items but does unlike items but does notnot use use likelike or or asas to compare to compare them. them.

• It is often a direct statement: “I am a rock”It is often a direct statement: “I am a rock” “ “Happiness is a warm bed” “The moon is the North Happiness is a warm bed” “The moon is the North

Wind’s cookie”Wind’s cookie”• Original metaphors can make language vivid and Original metaphors can make language vivid and

give us new insights. give us new insights. • ““The desert is the devil’s furnace”The desert is the devil’s furnace”• ““The bullfrog’s croak was the tuba of the swamp The bullfrog’s croak was the tuba of the swamp

band” (I never thought of the swamp in that way band” (I never thought of the swamp in that way before).before).

Remember this poem?Remember this poem?

Hold fast to dreamsHold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieFor if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged birdLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly. That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreamsHold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snowFrozen with snow

• What is life being compared to in the What is life being compared to in the first stanza?first stanza?

• In the second stanza?In the second stanza?

• How does this create a vivid image?How does this create a vivid image?

Remember this poem?Remember this poem?

The fog comesThe fog comeson little cat feet. on little cat feet.

It sits lookingIt sits lookingover harbor and cityover harbor and city

on silent hauncheson silent haunchesand then moves on.and then moves on.

• What is the fog being compared to?What is the fog being compared to?

• Why is the fog compared to it? What Why is the fog compared to it? What do they have in common? What do do they have in common? What do you know about fog?you know about fog?

Beware!! Metaphors can be Beware!! Metaphors can be clichés too.clichés too.

• He’s the backbone of our hockey He’s the backbone of our hockey team.team.

• He’s a ______ in the grassHe’s a ______ in the grass

• This place is a _____!This place is a _____!

• She’s a big fish in a small ______She’s a big fish in a small ______

Can you tell the difference? Can you tell the difference? Metaphor or simile?Metaphor or simile?

• Your education is your ticket to the future.Your education is your ticket to the future.

• The clouds were like puffs of cotton, The clouds were like puffs of cotton, floating in the summer sky.floating in the summer sky.

• Like a pendulum of a grandfather clock, the Like a pendulum of a grandfather clock, the conductor’s arms swung in time to the conductor’s arms swung in time to the music.music.

• The road stretched ahead like silver ribbon The road stretched ahead like silver ribbon in the moonlightin the moonlight

• The old diary was a window to the past.The old diary was a window to the past.

Mission Possible:Mission Possible:

• Use the poetry duotangs and poems within it Use the poetry duotangs and poems within it to hunt for examples of similes and to hunt for examples of similes and metaphorsmetaphors

• Write the similes you find on one side of the Write the similes you find on one side of the page and the metaphors on the otherpage and the metaphors on the other

• Pick one favourite simile and one metaphor Pick one favourite simile and one metaphor and be prepared to explain why you chose itand be prepared to explain why you chose it

• If you don’t find any before the end of class If you don’t find any before the end of class your teacher will…your teacher will…

EXPLODE!!!!!EXPLODE!!!!!

End of lesson 1End of lesson 1

Poetry sorting activityPoetry sorting activity

Cut and sort the lines into 4 piles:Cut and sort the lines into 4 piles:

Simile, metaphor, personification, Simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperboleand hyperbole

Now that you are armed with Now that you are armed with two literary weapons, let’s see two literary weapons, let’s see what other literary weapons what other literary weapons poets have in their arsenalpoets have in their arsenal

Lesson 2Lesson 2

PersonificationPersonification

• Personification is a literary device Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities such as that gives human qualities such as emotions, intelligence, or personality emotions, intelligence, or personality to animals or objects.to animals or objects.

There are two ways to There are two ways to create it:create it:

• You can give a human condition to a You can give a human condition to a non-human object (the flowers non-human object (the flowers danceddanced in the wind) in the wind)

• Or you can compare parts of the non-Or you can compare parts of the non-human object to parts of the human human object to parts of the human body (the body (the handshands of the tree of the tree wavedwaved to each passerby)to each passerby)

Examples:Examples:

Proud WordsProud Words

Look out how you use proud words.Look out how you use proud words.

When you let proud words go, it is not When you let proud words go, it is not easy to call them back.easy to call them back.

They wear long boots, hard boots, they They wear long boots, hard boots, they walk off proud; they can’t hear you walk off proud; they can’t hear you calling –calling –

Look out how you use proud words.Look out how you use proud words.

The Musical LionThe Musical Lion

Said the Lion, “On music I doteSaid the Lion, “On music I dote

But something is wrong with my But something is wrong with my throat.throat.

When I practice a scale,When I practice a scale,

The listeners quail,The listeners quail,

And flee at the very first note!”And flee at the very first note!”

Can you think of any stories Can you think of any stories that use personification?that use personification?

• Charlotte’s WebCharlotte’s Web

Think of four objects or living Think of four objects or living things from nature and things from nature and

combine with a human actioncombine with a human action1.1. The rock bounded down the mountainThe rock bounded down the mountain

2.2. The spring birds chatteredThe spring birds chattered

3.3. The desk swallowed the papersThe desk swallowed the papers

Combined with a simile:Combined with a simile:

1.1. ……like a deer through the forestlike a deer through the forest

2.2. ……like ladies at a tea partylike ladies at a tea party

3.3. ……like a fireman at a smorgasbordlike a fireman at a smorgasbord

Think of two things that can Think of two things that can have human body parts have human body parts substituted for their own. For substituted for their own. For example:example:• The face of Big Ben watches over the The face of Big Ben watches over the

city of Londoncity of London

• A treeA tree

• A daffodilA daffodil

• A staplerA stapler

• A carA car

AlliterationAlliteration

• Alliteration is the repetition of soundsAlliteration is the repetition of sounds

• Consonance is the repetition of Consonance is the repetition of consonant soundsconsonant sounds

• Assonance is the repetition of vowel Assonance is the repetition of vowel soundssounds

• For example: One by one the For example: One by one the large large leavesleaves fell from the fell from the mighty maplemighty maple tree tree

What sound is being repeated What sound is being repeated in each of these lines?in each of these lines?

• Over the cobbles he clattered and Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark innyard.clashed in the dark innyard.

• He clasps the crag with crooked He clasps the crag with crooked handshands

• The snake slithered silently to the The snake slithered silently to the streamstream

• The willows were whispering in the The willows were whispering in the wind wind

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

• ScreechScreech

• CrashCrash

• BurpBurp

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

• Is a literary form in which words Is a literary form in which words sound like their meaning.sound like their meaning.

• When you want to use a word to When you want to use a word to imitate a sound, you use imitate a sound, you use onomatopoeia.onomatopoeia.

• Examples; snap, hiss, bang, clash, Examples; snap, hiss, bang, clash, boom, thud, buzz, click, quack, and boom, thud, buzz, click, quack, and sizzle.sizzle.

ClassroomClassroom

I hearI hear

the screech of chalk on the board.the screech of chalk on the board.

the grinding of a pencil in the the grinding of a pencil in the sharpener.sharpener.

the tapping of fingers on the desk.the tapping of fingers on the desk.

the push of students taking a test.the push of students taking a test.

Other examples:Other examples:

• ClangClang battleaxe, and battleaxe, and clashclash brand! Let brand! Let the king reign.the king reign.

• Rough wind, that Rough wind, that moanestmoanest loud… loud…

HyperboleHyperbole

• A literary device that gives force or A literary device that gives force or intensity to what we write.intensity to what we write.

• An exaggeration.An exaggeration.• Examples: I’m as hungry as a horseExamples: I’m as hungry as a horse• There were a million people ahead of There were a million people ahead of

me in lineme in line• She’s older than the hillsShe’s older than the hills• I’m so big, sometimes I even scare I’m so big, sometimes I even scare

myselfmyself

YarnsYarns

They have yarnsThey have yarns

Of a skyscraper so tallOf a skyscraper so tall

They had to put hingesThey had to put hinges

On the two top storiesOn the two top stories

So to let the moon go by.So to let the moon go by.

The Ostrich Is a Silly BirdThe Ostrich Is a Silly Bird

The ostrich is a silly bird,The ostrich is a silly bird,

With scarcely any mind.With scarcely any mind.

He often runs so very fast,He often runs so very fast,

He leaves himself behind.He leaves himself behind.

And when he gets there has to stand,And when he gets there has to stand,

And hang about till night,And hang about till night,

Without a blessed thing to doWithout a blessed thing to do

Until he comes in sight.Until he comes in sight.

Mission Possible:Mission Possible:

• Use the poetry duotangs and poems within Use the poetry duotangs and poems within it to hunt for examples of personification, it to hunt for examples of personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and alliteration, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole.hyperbole.

• Write the examples you find on a separate Write the examples you find on a separate page for each categorypage for each category

• Pick one favourite from each category and Pick one favourite from each category and be prepared to explain why you chose itbe prepared to explain why you chose it

• If you don’t find any before the end of If you don’t find any before the end of class your teacher will…class your teacher will…

EXPLODE!!!!!EXPLODE!!!!!

Poetry Mindmap AssignmentPoetry Mindmap Assignment

• Use the examples of literary devices Use the examples of literary devices to create a mindmap to create a mindmap

• Remember to colour code itRemember to colour code it

• It should be a collection of your It should be a collection of your favourite poetic language favourite poetic language

• See sampleSee sample