Poetry

Defining the Indefinable

• Poetry comes from the Latin word “poeta” meaning “a poet.”

• The French poet Paul Valery once defined poetry as the unique intersection of language and state of mind.

• A form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to its meaning.

Distinguishing Poetry from other Literature

• A work written in verse, (verse is a particular type of metrical line).

• Relying heavily on imagery, precise word choice and figurative language (like metaphors).

• They may take many different forms distinguished by rhyme, rhythm, meter (beats), syllables, lines, stanzas, etc.

PurposePoetry is perhaps the ultimate

expression of language. While some epics like “The Odyssey” are meant to tell stories, most poetry is simply used to convey emotions and ideas.

Why should we read poetry?

History

• Poetry appears among the earliest records of most literate cultures, with poetic fragments found on early monoliths and runestones.

• The oldest surviving poem, “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” dates back to 3000 BC found in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).

• Aristotle believed there were three categories of poetry: epic, tragic, and comic. He elaborated these ideas in his work Poetics.

Originally, poetry was meant to be heard, not read silently.

Why do you think so?

Poetry was used to record historical events as well as communicate important information before a literate society. These poems were memorized, recited and sung.

Today poetry is used as a form of expression: to entertain, to inspire, to expand perspective.

Forms of Poetry(There over 50 forms of poetry, here are some we

will read, write and/or study)

Acrostic ElegyHaiku Free VerseOde PastoralSonnet Found PoetryVillanelle Slam PoetryLimerick BalladEpic TankaBlank Verse Cinquain

Poetry Unit Goals

• Develop an appreciation for language and poetry.

• Develop skills in interpreting poems.• Explore the use of figurative language.• Discover many different forms of poetry.• Explore the process of writing a poem.

Answer this question individually…

How can poetry help you become a better reader and writer?

Hand this in when you are finished.

Acrostic Poetry

• Ancient poetic form• Acrostic poems can be found in ancient

Greek and Latin literature as well as in Old Testament Hebrew Psalms.

• Traditionally, the first letter of each line spells a word or phrase, most often the title or subject of the poem.

Examples of Acrostic Poems

Cat TrashCan’t Takes aAvoid ReallyTrouble Astounding

Stomach toHandle this mess.

HockeyHockey is my favorite sportOn the ice or streetCool and funKeep on playingExercise and strongerYou should try

AprilAfter an extensive winterPretty tulipsRise from the onceIcy ground bringing fresh signs ofLife.

Poe takes it one step further in this Acrostic poem…1st letter of 1st line, 2nd letter of 2nd line, 3rd letter of 3rd line…

A Valentine to _______.For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes

Brightly expressive as the twins of Laeda,Shall find her own sweet name, that, nestling lies

Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.Search narrowly the lines!—they hold a treasure

Divine—a talisman—an amuletThat must be worn at heart. Search well the measure—

Can you figure out the person’s first name?

A Valentine to _______.

For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyesBrightly expressive as the twins of Laeda,

Shall find her own sweet name, that, nestling liesUpon the page, enwrapped from every reader.

Search narrowly the lines!—they hold a treasureDivine—a talisman—an amulet

That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure—

This is just the first part of a 21 line poem.