Children’s Literature

Nonfiction Reading

“The Mouse and the Cake”

Elements of Poetry

Notes and Activity

What is poetry? It is a kind of rhythmic (it has a beat to it),

compressed language (so as few words as possible to get the message out) that uses figures of speech and imagery designed to appeal to our emotions and imagination.

Poetry is arranged in lines that often have a regular pattern of rhythm and end rhyme scheme.

The lines usually are chunked together in stanzas.

Some poems called “free verse” do not have regular patterns in rhythm or rhyme.

Learning Target

Review several poetry elements from last year as well as learn a couple new ones.

Analyze poetry using these elements to help create a clear understanding of the poem.

Practice note taking skills.

Personification - Review

To give non-human things human characteristics.

The moon walks in her silver dress.

Alliteration - Review

The repetition of consonant sounds in words close together.

The sun was sailing on the sea.

Imagery - Review

Language that appeals to the senses.

The billowing, white clouds swirled in the warm, blue sky.

NEW!!! Hyperbole

An exaggeration used as a figure of speech not meant to be taken as truth.

She talked so much I thought her lips would fall off.

My backpack weighs a ton!

NEW!! Rhyme (Rhyme Scheme) The pattern of end rhyme between lines of a poem. Letters are used to represent each rhyme. Example (A,B,A,B or A,A,B,B) (Many other possibilities!)

The Rainy Day

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary AIt rains, and the wind is never weary; AThe vine still clings to the mouldering wall, BBut at every gust the dead leaves fall, BAnd the day is dark and dreary. A

Get the non-fiction assignment

Click on Honors and go to today’s date Get the non-fiction assignment.

“The Mouse and the Cake”

In your notebooks answer:

1.What is your reaction to this poem?

2.What is the lesson?

3.Why does this fit into the 19th century children’s literature genre?

4.Evaluate this poem. Is this a good lesson for children?

5. Define personification. Where do you see it in the poem? Include a specific line.