Poetry Unit

AnalysisCatalystsForm Poetry

Opening QsWhat is poetry?What are vital attributes to the

poetry genre?How does one go about writing a

poem?Why do we write, read, and

discuss poetry?

Introduction to PoetryI Dont Write Poetry! Eric Cockrell

i dont write poetry...i sweat poetry, i drink poetry, i breathe poetry, i make love to poetry, i fight poetry, i eat poetry, i bleed poetry, i crap poetry...too often i betray poetry, sometimes i drop poetry.once i tripped over poetry, got angry and kicked poetry.i rocked poetry on a sleepless night, i buried poetry on the hill...i lived poetry, for i am poetry...

no, i dont write poetry, but poetry writes me!

Write Poems about PoetryDirections: Write 3 poems about poetry.

Your poems should convey: your feelings about poetry, what you believe poetry is, and why you write poetry.

If you’re struggling for a start… Start your 1st poem with the line “Poetry

is”

Poetry Catalyst PracticeDirections: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once.

Practice Prompt On the wings of a pale green butterfly

SHARE!!!

FORM POEM: Haiku Structure

Line 1: 5 syllables Line 2: 7 syllables Line 3: 5 syllables

Content Traditional Haikus are about nature Modern Haikus are about a variety of topics BOTH juxtapose two images or ideas

Activity Practice with “FlashCard” poetry (write your

poems in your notes!) Write 2 TRADITIONAL Haikus (about nature) Write 2 MODERN Haikus

Imagery

Definition: when the writer “paints a picture” with his/her words.

Practice Write a line of poetry that “paints a picture”

of the following things: Friendship Sorrow Fear

Daily CatalystDirections: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise)

once.FOCUS: imagery

Holding my small hand

FORM POEM: Acrostic Structure

The poem is built off of a BASE WORD That BASE WORD should also be the last word of

the poem Content

Your BASE WORD should be an idea or concept. Example

Harsh words cut through my soulAs tears run down my faceThe world around me stops Even now – I hate hate.

Activity Write 2 Acrostic poems about the topic of your

choice

Daily CatalystDirections: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise)

once.FOCUS: imagery

We wait to change our mask

Shape/Concrete Poems Structure

written in the shape of the object it is about Content

Your IMAGE should be a symbolic object ExampleType # 1 (outline) Type # 2 (filled)

xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxx

Activity write 2 shape/concrete poems

1 type # 1 (outline only) 1 type # 2 (typed, filled-in shape)

Poetry Analysis: The First Book

Directions: Read the poem and take notes on

meaning, literary devices, and personal reactions.

Create a 1-page, typed (1.5 spacing), thesis-based formal analysis in which you discuss this piece using evidence from the text.

Poetry Analysis Your analysis will be a standard essay

Introduction w/ a thesis Body paragraphs w/ textual evidence (lines

from the poem) Conclusion

Things to consider in your analysis: Poetic devices

Personification Alliteration Allusion Theme Imagery

o Simileo Metaphoro Repetition o Symbol o Rhyme scheme

Some other things to consider Personal reaction to the piece Underlying meaning/Alternate meaning Tone Do you like the piece? Why?

Incorporating Quoteso Include specific lines from the poem to support

your analysis.o Put the line in “ “ and where there is a line break in

the poem, use a / to indicate that.o Because this is an analysis about ONE POEM, make

sure the poem title and poet name appear in the introduction. No other citation is necessary

o Be sure to remember the acronym I.C.E when incorporating quotes. Introduce – Cite – Explain

Simile and Metaphor Definition:

Simile – a comparison of 2 unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Metaphor – a comparison of 2 unlike things (1 thing IS the other)

Both devices are meant to draw a connection between the unknown and the familiar

Practice: Write a simile and a metaphor for the following

things: A daisy A pencil A whisk A garbage can

Daily CatalystDirections: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise)

once.FOCUS: simile and metaphor

I am making a house

Diamonte Structure

Line 1 = one noun Line 2 = two adjectives Line 3 = three verbs ending in –ing Line 4 = four nouns Line 5 = three different verbs ending in –ing Line 6 = two adjectives (different than line 2) Line 7 = one noun (different than line 1)

Content This poem works best with a concept

Practice Use the lists provided to create a Diamonte (next slide)

Activity Write 2 original Diamonte poems

Nouns Adjectives -ing verbs

Love PencilHate bikeBlessing birdRing heart Beauty ghostPen beePaper farmerThought sight School faithHomeVacationSnowCoffeeDogHatMoosePhoneBookBoredom

Beautiful fabulousFat colorfulBitter fluidSweet smartStinky sassySoft importantHarsh blandSparkly terribleBright simpleDark complex Lavish peacefulSmall looseGiant alive Rigid jealousColossal mysterious Cute richcuddly vast Powerful clumsy

Growing yellingRunning watchingJumping waitingCrying planningLaughing partingSeeing workingBelieving stoppingWriting lyingLearning holdingSleeping meetingTasting sittingKeeping standingTalking livingListening helpingShining skiingGlowing lickingSmiling crawlingFrowning quivering

RondeauStructure15 lines: broken into 3 stanzas 5-4-6

1. A (Refrain)2. a3. b4. b5. a

6. a7. a8. b9. R

10.a11.a12.b13.b14.a15.R

Rondeau: exampleWe Wear the MaskPaul Lawrence Dunbar

   WE wear the mask that grins and lies,     It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—     This debt we pay to human guile;     With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,     And mouth with myriad subtleties.

    Why should the world be over-wise,     In counting all our tears and sighs?     Nay, let them only see us, while             We wear the mask.

    We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries     To thee from tortured souls arise.     We sing, but oh the clay is vile     Beneath our feet, and long the mile;     But let the world dream otherwise,             We wear the mask!

Activity Write an original Rondeau Final copy should be typed

Villanelle

1. A1 (REFRAIN)2. b3. A2 (REFRAIN)

4. a5. b6. A1

7. a8. b9. A2

10. a11. b12. A1

13. a 14. b15. A2

16. a17. b18. A1

19. A2

Structure19 lines: 5 triplets (3 lines) & 1 quatrain (4 lines)

Villanelle: exampleDo Not Go Gentle into that Good NightDylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,Because their words had forked no lightning theyDo not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how brightTheir frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sightBlind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.Do not go gentle into that good night.Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Activity Write an original Villanelle Final copy should be typed

Daily CatalystsDirections: Build poems around the following line. You may only add up to 40 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once.FOCUS: simile and metaphor

You are not forgiven Use simile or metaphor

My soul is a river create an extended metaphor

Imitations Read the “Inspired Poetry” sheet that

illustrates 2 poems that are imitations of Rita Dove pieces.

Read the poems on the next sheet and choose 3 to write imitations for.

Label 2 “practice” Type and label the one that you are most

proud of for a MW grade

Cento Structure

A “patchwork” poem that takes lines or phrases from many different poems from the same poet and combines them into a new piece.

Content The content of these types of poems varies

and is driven by the pieces that you select to “sew” back together

Practice Using the Sonia Sanchez poems provided,

create a 5-10 line Cento. Activity

Write TWO Centos (typed) a minimum of 20 lines each 1 from the group of Billy Collins poems 1 from the groups of Adrienne Rich poems

Free Form Poetry Structure

Divided into stanzas Has a pleasant rhythm & flow

Content Varies

Activity Write a free form poem about each of the

following topics: Bullying (the act, the feeling associated with, combating it) One of the seasons A person A part of the life cycle (birth, childhood, young adulthood,

adulthood, elder years, death) A tragic or comedic event A mundane activity