POETRYPOETRY

Structure and MeterStructure and Meter

Poems consist of lines that Poems consist of lines that may be organized into groups may be organized into groups called called stanzasstanzas. . MeterMeter is the is the rhythmic pattern establish rhythmic pattern establish by stresses or best within by stresses or best within each line of a poem. Meter each line of a poem. Meter is measured in units called is measured in units called feet.feet.

RHYMERHYME

The repetition of vowel and The repetition of vowel and consonant sounds at the end of consonant sounds at the end of wordswords

ExampleExample: pr: proudoud and all and allowedowed

Write down your own example Write down your own example along with the definition.along with the definition.

The repetition of identical The repetition of identical sounds at the ends of lines of sounds at the ends of lines of

poetry.poetry.

ExampleExample::

““He clasps the crag He clasps the crag with crooked with crooked handshands

Close to the sun in Close to the sun in lonely lonely landslands.”.”

-from “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord -from “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord TennysonTennyson

The repetition of The repetition of identical sounds identical sounds withinwithin a a

line of poetry.line of poetry.

ExamplesExamples::

““We We threethree shall shall fleeflee across the across the seasea to Italy.” to Italy.”

OROR

““Hold Hold infinityinfinity in the palm of your hand in the palm of your hand

And And eternityeternity in an hour.” in an hour.”

A slant rhyme or half A slant rhyme or half rhyme occurs when the rhyme occurs when the

vowel sounds are not quite vowel sounds are not quite identical.identical.

ExampleExample::

““And on that cheek and And on that cheek and o’er that o’er that browbrow””

A mind at peace with all A mind at peace with all belowbelow””

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

A pattern of end rhymes in a A pattern of end rhymes in a poempoem

ExampleExample: : Roses are redRoses are red

Violets are blViolets are blueue

I am awesomeI am awesome

And so are yAnd so are youou!!

(Rhyme scheme =ABCB)(Rhyme scheme =ABCB)

CoupletCouplet A pair of rhyming lines usually of A pair of rhyming lines usually of the same meter and length. (It the same meter and length. (It usually expresses a single idea and usually expresses a single idea and functions as a complete stanza.)functions as a complete stanza.)

ExampleExample: : So long as men can breath, or eyes can So long as men can breath, or eyes can sseeee,,

So long lives this gives life to thSo long lives this gives life to theeee..

-William Shakespeare, Sonnet -William Shakespeare, Sonnet 1818

Other Sound DevicesOther Sound Devices

Poets may use sound devices Poets may use sound devices other than rhyme. Like rhyme, other than rhyme. Like rhyme, these devices emphasize key these devices emphasize key ideas, create connections among ideas, create connections among words, and elicit emotional words, and elicit emotional responses.responses.

The repetition of consonant The repetition of consonant sounds at the sounds at the beginningsbeginnings of of

words.words.

ExampleExample::

““SSwiftly, wiftly, sswiftly flew wiftly flew

the the sship”hip”

Assonance and Assonance and ConsonanceConsonance

AssonanceAssonance- - The repetition of The repetition of vowel sounds vowel sounds insideinside words words

--ExampleExample: We d: We duully trlly truudged dged along the dalong the duusty sty ttuunnel.nnel.

ConsonanceConsonance- The repetition of - The repetition of consonant sounds consonant sounds insideinside words. words.

--ExampleExample: The ner: The nervvous moous movve at e at eevvery liery livving ing sound.sound.

The use of words whose The use of words whose sounds suggest the sounds sounds suggest the sounds

made by objects or activities.made by objects or activities.

““Blind eyes Blind eyes could could blazeblaze

like like meteors”meteors”

Other examples:

buzz, hum, kiss

Other examples:

buzz, hum, kiss

Speaker and ToneSpeaker and Tone

ToneTone: The emotional attitude : The emotional attitude projected by the writer toward the projected by the writer toward the subject and audiencesubject and audience Formal tone features formal grammarFormal tone features formal grammar Informal tone may feature colloquial Informal tone may feature colloquial language (local idioms and slang language (local idioms and slang expressions) expressions)

SpeakerSpeaker: Serves the same function : Serves the same function as the narrator in a storyas the narrator in a story

Kinds of Poetic Kinds of Poetic LanguageLanguage

Poets combine literal and Poets combine literal and figurative language to generate figurative language to generate layers of meaning or to invite layers of meaning or to invite a deeper understanding of a a deeper understanding of a subject.subject.

Denotation and Denotation and ConnotationConnotation

Denotation- A word’s dictionary Denotation- A word’s dictionary definitiondefinition

Connotation- The emotional Connotation- The emotional associations a word evokesassociations a word evokesExampleExample: Car is a neutral word, however…: Car is a neutral word, however…

““Junker” suggests an old, broken down Junker” suggests an old, broken down vehiclevehicle

““Classic” implies a car worthy of showing Classic” implies a car worthy of showing offoff

The use of concrete The use of concrete details that appeal to the details that appeal to the

five senses.five senses.

ExampleExample: : Cold, wet Cold, wet leaves float on leaves float on moss-colored moss-colored water.water.

Language that departs Language that departs from literal meaning in from literal meaning in

order to achieve a order to achieve a special effectspecial effect

A direct comparison between A direct comparison between two basically different things two basically different things

that is introduced by the words that is introduced by the words “like” or “as.”“like” or “as.”

ExampleExample::

My love is My love is like a like a red, red, red red rose.rose.

An implied comparison An implied comparison between two basically between two basically

different things that is different things that is not not introduced with the introduced with the words “like” or “as”.words “like” or “as”.

ExampleExample::

His eyes were His eyes were daggers that cut daggers that cut right through right through me.me.

Human characteristics are Human characteristics are given to non-human animals, given to non-human animals,

objects, or ideas.objects, or ideas.

ExampleExample::

The sun kissed The sun kissed the flowers.the flowers.

A great exaggeration to A great exaggeration to emphasize strong emphasize strong

feeling.feeling.

ExampleExample::

My backpack My backpack weighs a ton.weighs a ton.

A central insight about A central insight about life revealed through a life revealed through a

literary workliterary work

““It is necessary to see It is necessary to see life from another’s life from another’s perspective in order perspective in order to truly understand to truly understand

him/her.”him/her.”

Forms and Types of Forms and Types of PoetryPoetry

A poem’s form can help convey A poem’s form can help convey its message and tone.its message and tone.

NOTENOTE: There are : There are MANYMANY different different types of poems; the following types of poems; the following are just a few you will are just a few you will encounter in this unit.encounter in this unit.

Poetry without a Poetry without a regular pattern of regular pattern of meter or rhyme.meter or rhyme.

(Poetry with no rules!)(Poetry with no rules!)

Formal VerseFormal Verse

Poetry that follows established Poetry that follows established patterns. patterns.

(Each standard poetic form has (Each standard poetic form has specific requirements regarding specific requirements regarding rhyme scheme, meter and line or rhyme scheme, meter and line or stanza structure.)stanza structure.)

NOTENOTE: The remaining terms are all : The remaining terms are all different types of different types of formal verseformal verse..

Narrative PoemNarrative Poem

A poem that tells a story and A poem that tells a story and has a plot, characters, and a has a plot, characters, and a setting. setting.

Two common types of Two common types of narrative narrative poems poems are are epic poems epic poems and and balladsballads……

Epic Poem and BalladEpic Poem and Ballad

Epic PoemEpic Poem- a long narrative poem - a long narrative poem about gods or heroes (such as “The about gods or heroes (such as “The Odyssey” by Homer)Odyssey” by Homer)

BalladBallad- a shorter poem that - a shorter poem that describes a single event and may be describes a single event and may be set to music. (Most include short set to music. (Most include short stanzas and a refrain that repeats stanzas and a refrain that repeats several times, like a chorus in a several times, like a chorus in a song.)song.)

Dramatic PoetryDramatic Poetry

Poetic writing that a story using Poetic writing that a story using character’s own thoughts or spoken character’s own thoughts or spoken statements, is a component of statements, is a component of many classical plays (in these many classical plays (in these plays noble characters may deliver plays noble characters may deliver rhythmic, poetic speeches, while rhythmic, poetic speeches, while lower-class characters speak in lower-class characters speak in regular prose)regular prose)

Also used to refer to poems in Also used to refer to poems in which one or more characters speakwhich one or more characters speak

Lyric PoetryLyric Poetry

A poem that expresses the A poem that expresses the feelings of a single speaker, feelings of a single speaker, using melodic language, using melodic language, imagery, rhythm, and sounds imagery, rhythm, and sounds devices to express emotions devices to express emotions

(This is the most common type of (This is the most common type of poetry in modern language.)poetry in modern language.)

A poem of praise that often A poem of praise that often exhibits complex metrical exhibits complex metrical

patterns, specific rhyme schemes, patterns, specific rhyme schemes, and stanzas of ten or more lines and stanzas of ten or more lines

eacheach

SONNETSONNETA fourteen-line poem, that is divided into A fourteen-line poem, that is divided into

three quatrains (rhyming four-line three quatrains (rhyming four-line stanzas) and a concluding couplet stanzas) and a concluding couplet (pair of rhyming lines)(pair of rhyming lines)

(Each quatrain makes a point or gives an (Each quatrain makes a point or gives an example, and the couplet sums it all up.)example, and the couplet sums it all up.)