POETRYStructure, Sound, Imagery and Figurative Language

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FORMS AND STRUCTURES OF POETRY?

Lines The way the poet arranges the words—may

or may not be sentences. Stanzas Groups of lines in poetry p. 744 Literature book (note the

metaphors, personification, rhyme) Couplet Rhyming couplets are a pair of rhyming lines

that usually have the same meter and length.

Rhyming Couplet- a pair of rhyming lines that usually have the same meter and length.

Example— People may rhyme Any old time

But rhyming is too zany For the ones who are brainy

TYPES OF POEMS -FORM AND STRUCTURE

Free Verse– these poems have no regular meter, no rhyme, no fixed line length, no specific stanza pattern. They have no structure.

P. 645 “Describe Somebody” (notice stanza lengths) Lyric poetry-expresses the thoughts and

feelings of a single speaker—often in musical verse.

P. 735 “Harriet Beecher Stowe” ( rhyming couplets) Narrative poetry-tells a story in verse—they

have elements such as setting, plot, characters. P. 731 “Paul Revere’s Ride” (meter)

TYPES OF POETRY-FORM AND STRUCTURE

Epic-Long narrative poem that tells an exciting or inspiring story, usually about a hero. It has a serious tone

P. 1078 “Invocation from John Brown’s Body”

Ode-poem with a formal tone, written for the single purpose of celebrating or honoring a person, object, or idea.

P. 685 “Ode to Enchanted Light” (note the metaphors, simile and

personification)

TYPES OF POEMS-FORM AND STRUCTURE

Ballad-song-like poems that tell a story, often dealing with adventure, tragedy or romance.

P. 1045 “John Henry”

(notice repetition) “Lawd, Lawd” Limerick-a humorous five-line poems with a

specific rhythmic pattern and an aabba rhyme scheme.

There once was a girl named Meg

Who slipped and broke her leg

She slipped on the log

And then on a dog

And decided to changed her name to Peg

TYPES OF POEMS-FORM AND STRUCTURE

Haiku-short, unrhymed poems, often about nature. Originated in Japan.

It has 3 lines—the 1st and 3rd lines have five syllables. The 2nd has 7 syllables.

Example— Rushing, rolling down (5 syllables) The river flows to the sea (7 syllables) Blue skies hang above (5

syllables)

POETRY SOUND DEVICES

Alliteration Rhyme Rhythm Meter—rhythmical pattern Onomatopoeia Repetition—repeating words Symbolism

METER

The rhythmical pattern, or arrangement and number of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Accent marks show the stress How is this read?—Stressed and UnstressedT’was the night before Christmas, when all

through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;The stockings were hung by the chimney with

care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

IMAGERY

How do poets express emotion and thought through imagery?

Visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell P. 746 “New World” P. 749 “For My Sister Molly Who In the

Fifties”

ONOMATOPOEIA & ALLITERATION

P. 663- “The Drum”-Onomatopoeia P. 655- “Cat!--Onomatopoeia

P. 657- “Silver”---Alliteration-Meter