Poetry TerminologyPoetry Terminology

The BasicsThe Basics

SpeakerSpeaker The voice presenting the poem.The voice presenting the poem.

Comparable to the narrator in short Comparable to the narrator in short stories.stories.

The speaker may be in the poem or The speaker may be in the poem or whom the poem is about.whom the poem is about.

What can you tell me about the What can you tell me about the speaker in the following poem?speaker in the following poem?• List a characteristic / quality that the List a characteristic / quality that the

speaker possesses. speaker possesses. • Give evidence from the text to support Give evidence from the text to support

(2 pieces).(2 pieces).

Military MindMilitary MindBY CHARLIE SMITHBY CHARLIE SMITH

I wanted to go to military school   I wanted to go to military school   and march, I wanted to grow up   and march, I wanted to grow up   and be composed and expert   and be composed and expert   with a rifle, with tactics and fighting,   with a rifle, with tactics and fighting,   to be safe and courageous among men   to be safe and courageous among men   in barracks and on the battlefield.   in barracks and on the battlefield.   I wanted to see my arms hairy and   I wanted to see my arms hairy and   corded with muscle at the end of rolled up khaki corded with muscle at the end of rolled up khaki

sleeves.   sleeves.   I wanted to flex my feet in boots and   I wanted to flex my feet in boots and   look down at the the dust of battles…   look down at the the dust of battles…   

MeterMeter The pattern of beats (rhythm) The pattern of beats (rhythm)

through syllables as well as stressed through syllables as well as stressed and unstressed sounds within lines of and unstressed sounds within lines of poetry.poetry.

Can be consistent or inconsistentCan be consistent or inconsistent A ‘foot’ is a unit of “beat” within the meterA ‘foot’ is a unit of “beat” within the meter

Examples of MeterExamples of Meter Iambic Iambic

A foot which starts with an unaccented A foot which starts with an unaccented and ends with an accented (stressed) and ends with an accented (stressed) syllable.syllable.

““To be or not to be.” To be or not to be.” HamletHamlet

Examples of MeterExamples of Meter Trochaic Trochaic

The opposite of an iambic meter. It The opposite of an iambic meter. It begins with an accented then followed begins with an accented then followed by an unaccented syllable. by an unaccented syllable.

"Double, double, toil and trouble." "Double, double, toil and trouble." MacbethMacbeth

No Meter = Free VerseNo Meter = Free VerseI Dream'd in a DreamI Dream'd in a Dream

by Walt Whitmanby Walt Whitman

I dream’d in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks I dream’d in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of of

the whole of the rest of the earth,the whole of the rest of the earth,

I dream'd that was the new city of Friends,I dream'd that was the new city of Friends,    

StanzaStanza A section of poetryA section of poetry

The paragraph of the poemThe paragraph of the poem

FogFogby Carl Sandburgby Carl Sandburg

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

It sits lookingIt sits lookingover harbor and cityover harbor and cityon silent hauncheson silent haunchesand then moves on.and then moves on.

(Stanzas)Couplet

Quatrain

Alliteration Alliteration Repetition of consonant sounds, Repetition of consonant sounds,

usually at the beginning of words.usually at the beginning of words.

Ex: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Ex: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.peppers.

ConsonanceConsonance Repetition of consonant sounds NOT Repetition of consonant sounds NOT

at the beginning of words, usually at the beginning of words, usually preceded by different vowel sounds.preceded by different vowel sounds. Usually more than one sound is linked Usually more than one sound is linked

together within consecutive wordstogether within consecutive words Ex: The Ex: The pitter patterpitter patter of of littlelittle feet. feet.

AssonanceAssonance The repetition of vowel sounds.The repetition of vowel sounds.

Ex: Jack Sprat could have no fat. Ex: Jack Sprat could have no fat.

From “The Chipmunk’s Day”From “The Chipmunk’s Day”by Randall Jarrell.by Randall Jarrell.

In and out the bushes, up the ivy, In and out the bushes, up the ivy, Into the Into the holeholeBy the By the old oak old oak stump, the chipmunk flashes.stump, the chipmunk flashes.Up the poleUp the pole

To the To the feeder full of seeds hefeeder full of seeds he dashes, dashes,Stuffs his Stuffs his cheekscheeksThe chickadeeThe chickadee and titmouse scold him and titmouse scold himDown Down he streakshe streaks..

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme Pattern of rhyming words at the end Pattern of rhyming words at the end

of lines of poetry.of lines of poetry. Can take on many formsCan take on many forms

A Common Rhyme SchemeA Common Rhyme Scheme A,A,B,B,C,C,D,D...A,A,B,B,C,C,D,D...

In the Civil WarIn the Civil WarMen were shot and toreMen were shot and toreAlthough it was not fairAlthough it was not fairCannons shot in airCannons shot in air....................

Rhyme SchemesRhyme Schemes Many rhyme schemes existMany rhyme schemes exist

To find out, simply label the end word To find out, simply label the end word with a letter, match that letter to any with a letter, match that letter to any other end word that it rhymes with other end word that it rhymes with (using one letter in the alphabet for (using one letter in the alphabet for each rhyme beginning at ‘a’)each rhyme beginning at ‘a’)

Example of End Rhyme Example of End Rhyme SchemeScheme

A,B,A,B C,D,C,D : Shakespeare’sA,B,A,B C,D,C,D : Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” “Sonnet 116”

Let me not to the marriage of true minds (a)Let me not to the marriage of true minds (a)Admit impediments, love is not love (b)Admit impediments, love is not love (b)Which alters when it alteration finds, (a)Which alters when it alteration finds, (a)Or bends with the remover to remove. (b)Or bends with the remover to remove. (b)O no, it is an ever fixed mark (c)O no, it is an ever fixed mark (c)That looks on tempests and is never shaken; (d)That looks on tempests and is never shaken; (d)It is the star to every wand'ring bark, (c)It is the star to every wand'ring bark, (c)Whose worth's unknown although his height be taken. Whose worth's unknown although his height be taken.

(d)(d)

You TryYou Try From “Happy ye leaves! whenas those lily hands by” From “Happy ye leaves! whenas those lily hands by”

Edmund SpencerEdmund Spencer

Happy ye leaves! whenas those lily hands, (_)Happy ye leaves! whenas those lily hands, (_)Which hold my life in their dead doing might, (_)Which hold my life in their dead doing might, (_)Shall handle you, and hold in love's soft bands, (_)Shall handle you, and hold in love's soft bands, (_)Like captives trembling at the victor's sight. (_)Like captives trembling at the victor's sight. (_)And happy lines on which, with starry light, (_)And happy lines on which, with starry light, (_)Those lamping eyes will deign sometimes to look, (_)Those lamping eyes will deign sometimes to look, (_)And read the sorrows of my dying sprite, (_)And read the sorrows of my dying sprite, (_)Written with tears in heart's close bleeding book. (_)Written with tears in heart's close bleeding book. (_)

AnswerAnswer A,B,A,B,B,C,B,CA,B,A,B,B,C,B,C

Did you get it right?Did you get it right?

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia The use of words to imitate sounds.The use of words to imitate sounds.

Bam! The china cracked against the Bam! The china cracked against the floor.floor.

PersonificationPersonification Seriously, if you don’t know what this Seriously, if you don’t know what this

is by now, we need to have a long is by now, we need to have a long talk with one another.talk with one another.

Personification: Just in CasePersonification: Just in Case Giving something non-human, humanlike Giving something non-human, humanlike

characteristics.characteristics.

She shines upon me with her pale blue eye.She shines upon me with her pale blue eye.

You TryYou Try Personify one of these here images!Personify one of these here images!

OROR

Imagery: Seeing (or sensing) is Imagery: Seeing (or sensing) is Believing Believing

Passages that engage the senses, Passages that engage the senses, typically the visual sense.typically the visual sense.

Example from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Example from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”Prufrock”

I should have been a pair of ragged clawsI should have been a pair of ragged clawsScuttling across the floors of silent seas.Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.

What images are being used in What images are being used in this passages? What senses this passages? What senses

are engaged? What could you are engaged? What could you add?add?““Episode”Episode”

BY ZBIGNIEW HERBERTBY ZBIGNIEW HERBERT

……what should I say on the shore ofwhat should I say on the shore of a small dead seaa small dead sea

slowly the water fillsslowly the water fills the shapes of feet which have vanishedthe shapes of feet which have vanished

One More Term: SymbolOne More Term: Symbol Poets make use of many, many symbols.Poets make use of many, many symbols.

Symbols are images that are associated Symbols are images that are associated with other ideas or things.with other ideas or things. Poets often create images through words that Poets often create images through words that

carry a deeper meaning than the literal one.carry a deeper meaning than the literal one. A symbol exists by being associated with A symbol exists by being associated with

something outside its literal self. something outside its literal self.

Common SymbolsCommon Symbols What could these items mean What could these items mean

symbolically?symbolically?

Now Let’s Look at One Type of Now Let’s Look at One Type of Poetry : HaikuPoetry : Haiku

Haiku (hi koo):Haiku (hi koo): A three-line poem of Japanese origin, A three-line poem of Japanese origin,

containing seventeen syllablescontaining seventeen syllables 11stst line = 5 syllables line = 5 syllables 22ndnd line = 7 syllables line = 7 syllables 33rdrd line = 5 syllables line = 5 syllables

HaikuHaiku Meaning is conveyed through very Meaning is conveyed through very

few wordsfew words

Oftentimes the subject matter of a Oftentimes the subject matter of a haiku is drawn from naturehaiku is drawn from nature

A Haiku by Matsuo BashoA Haiku by Matsuo BashoThe lightning flashes!The lightning flashes!

And slashing through the darkness,And slashing through the darkness,A night-heron’s screech.A night-heron’s screech.

by Chosuby ChosuBroken and brokenBroken and broken

against on the sea, the moonagainst on the sea, the moonso easily mends.so easily mends.

In Your TextbookIn Your Textbook Now, lets look at some more haiku Now, lets look at some more haiku

written in your textbook.written in your textbook.

Turn to page 479 in your purple Turn to page 479 in your purple Prentice Hall Literature textbook.Prentice Hall Literature textbook.

Your TurnYour Turn Choose an object or scene from Choose an object or scene from

nature to describe or write about in nature to describe or write about in the form of a haiku. the form of a haiku.

Write 2 haiku poems, attempting to Write 2 haiku poems, attempting to paint the image or relay an idea paint the image or relay an idea about the object to your audience:about the object to your audience: In a peaceful, pleasant mannerIn a peaceful, pleasant manner In a violent, menacing mannerIn a violent, menacing manner

Some Images Some Images

Quick Quiz: Question 1Quick Quiz: Question 1 What is the repetition of consonant What is the repetition of consonant

sounds, usually at the beginning of sounds, usually at the beginning of words called?words called?

A.) repetitionA.) repetition B.) assonanceB.) assonance C.) alliterationC.) alliteration D.) meterD.) meter

Quick Quiz: Question 2Quick Quiz: Question 2 What is an object/image that is What is an object/image that is

associated with other ideas or associated with other ideas or things?things?

A.) imageryA.) imagery B.) symbolB.) symbol C.) personificationC.) personification D.) metaphorD.) metaphor

Quick Quiz: Question 3Quick Quiz: Question 3 What is a section within a poem What is a section within a poem

called (comparable to a paragraph)?called (comparable to a paragraph)? A.) stanzaA.) stanza B.) lineB.) line C.) alliterationC.) alliteration D.) meterD.) meter

Quick Quiz: Question 4Quick Quiz: Question 4 True or False: All images are True or False: All images are

symbols.symbols. A.) trueA.) true B.) falseB.) false