POETRY

PoeticGENRES

Poetic GENRES

To begin with, let’s remember that most poetry does NOT rhyme.

Poetic GENRES

Lyric poetryDEFINITION: highly musical verse that expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker. It creates a single, unified impression.

Short Usually in 1st person point of view Expresses emotion or describes a scene Does NOT tell a story No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic GENRES

Acrostic poetryDEFINITION: a poem in which the first letter of each line spells a word or phrase that is the topic of the poem.

Oftentimes done about a name No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic GENRES

Ballad poetryDEFINITION: a poem that tells a story in a musical way or with a musical feeling

Can be as long as the story requires Odd-numbered lines longer than even-numbered lines Even-numbered lines should rhyme

Poetic GENRES

Epic poetryDEFINITION: a long narrative poem about the adventures of gods or a hero. Serious in tone and broad in theme.

Very long No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic GENRES

Concrete or Form poetryDEFINITION: a poem with a physical shape that suggests the subject/topic. The poet arranges the letters, punctuation, and lines to create an image, or picture, on the page.

Length – must fit into the shape No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

PoeticForms

Poetic Forms

HaikuDEFINITION: a Japanese poem about nature.

hAIKUby Rolf Nelson

Haikus are easy But sometimes they don’t make senseRefrigerator

5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES

NOTE: not technically a haiku because it’s not about nature

by Jonathan Stephens

Tell me I'm like light,light that reflects off windowsright into your eyes



I long for summerSwinging in my green hammockThe oak leaves whistling


by Matsuo Basho

Spring rainleaking through the roofdripping from the wasps' nest.


NOTE: But that’s not the right syllables! How is it a haiku?

Poetic Forms

HaikuDEFINITION: a Japanese poem about nature.

Length – 3 lines 5-7-5 No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic Forms

CinquainDEFINITION: can be about anything

Cinquains“November “by Adelaide Crapsey

Listen . . .With faint dry sound,Like steps of passing ghosts,The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break from the treesAnd fall.

2 SYLLABLES4 SYLLABLES6 SYLLABLES8 SYLLABLES2 SYLLABLES

“Snow” by Adelaide Crapsey

Look up . . .From bleak’ning hillsBlows down the light, first breathOf wintry wind . . . look up, and scentThe snow!

2 SYLLABLES

6 SYLLABLES

2 SYLLABLES

4 SYLLABLES

8 SYLLABLES

“Guarded Wound” by Adelaide Crapsey

If itWere lighter touchThan petal of flower restingOn grass, oh still too heavy it were,Too heavy!

2 SYLLABLES

8 SYLLABLES

3 SYLLABLES

4 SYLLABLES

9 SYLLABLES

Poetic Forms

CinquainDEFINITION: can be about anything

Length – 5 lines 2-4-6-8-2 No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic Forms

TankaDEFINITION: can be about anything

Tankasby Margaret Chula

hazy autumn moonthe sound of chestnuts droppingfrom an empty skyI gather your belongingsinto boxes for the poor

5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES

by Lenard D. Moore

The night is too longA tavern just off the roadWith only one car,But the man and woman hugTo the song on the jukebox

5 SYLLABLES

5 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

by David Rice

yellow daffodilsin both our growing gardensI worship mine most,more than my neighbor's practicethough they look the same as mine

5 SYLLABLES

5 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

Poetic Forms

TankaDEFINITION: can be about anything

Length – 5 lines 5-7-5-7-7 No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic Forms

VillanelleDEFINITION: highly specialized 6-stanza, 19-line poem that features two repeating lines

C1

VillanelleThe flashlight almost hit us againGuards patrol the hill to keep us from our goalWe are going to get the flag

We dart from rock to tree in pursuit of the dreamCrawling through bushes and pine trees, clothes black as coalThe flashlight almost hit us again

We have to get the flag before the other four teamsRed and white striped on the hill, in a field, atop a poleWe are going to get the flag

Snaking like snipers through the trees avoiding the beamsWe crawl, one behind the other, through brush and through holesThe flashlight almost hit us again

An open field is our last obstacle but all around flashlights gleamWe military crawl through the foot-high grass barely avoiding a patrolWe are going to get the flag

We have to grab the flag before we are seenAcross the shining moonlit grass field we can see the flag, our goalThe flashlight almost hit us againWe are going to get the flag

A1B

A1

DB

C1

DB

A1

DB

C1

DB

A1

DB

C1

Poetic Forms

VillanelleDEFINITION: highly specialized 6-stanza poem that features two repeating lines

Length – 19 lines No syllable requirements Rhyme scheme:

A1BC1

DBA1

DBC1

DBA1

DBC1

DBA1C1

Poetic Forms

Shakespearean SonnetDEFINITION: a type of sonnet made famous by William Shakespeare

Length – 14 lines 10 syllables per line Rhyme scheme:

ABAB

CDCD

EFEF

GG

thePrologue

Romeo & Juliet

Shakespearean SonnetABABCDCDEFEFGG

Two households, both alike in DIGNITY(In fair Verona, where we lay our SCENE),From ancient grudge break to new MUTINY,Where civil blood makes civil hands UNCLEAN.From forth the fatal loins of these two FOESA pair of star-crossed lovers take their LIFE;Whose misadventured piteous OVERTHROWSDoth with their death bury their parents’ STRIFE.The fearful passage of their death-marked LOVEAnd the continuance of their parents’ RAGE,Which, but their children’s end, naught could REMOVEIs now the two hours’ traffic of our STAGE;The which, if you with patient ears ATTEND,What hear shall miss, our toil shall strive to MEND.

Shakespearean Sonnet

A

B

A

B

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Two households, both alike in DIGNITY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10(In fair Verona, where we lay our SCENE), 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10From ancient grudge break to new MUTINY, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Where civil blood makes civil hands UNCLEAN.


A

B

A

B

˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Two households, both alike in DIGNITY ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10(In fair Verona, where we lay our SCENE), ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10From ancient grudge break to new MUTINY, ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Where civil blood makes civil hands UNCLEAN.

Poetic Forms

Shakespearean SonnetDEFINITION: a type of sonnet made famous by William Shakespeare

Length – 14 lines 10 syllables per line Rhyme scheme:

ABAB

CDCD

EFEF

GG

thefirst kiss

Romeo & Juliet

Act 1 | Scene 5 PartyABABCDCDEFEFGG

If I profane with my unworthliest handThis holy shrine, the gentle sin is thisMy lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kissGood pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too muchWhich mannerly devotion shows in thisFor saints has hands that pilgrims’ hands do touchAnd palm to palm is holy palmers’ kissHave not saints lips, and holy palmers too?Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.

I Sat & PonderedABABCDCDEFEFGG

I sat and pondered the way I would diewishing a death fit for history bookshoping to someday fight a tall grizzlyon a bridge by a small creek in the woods.It would be a heroic death for meto battle the brute of a bear like this,His instinct, my mind, his power, my speed,my courage and strength will stand against his.My last crusade of great valor and moves.Think of the death, the sharp paws bludgeoning,swatting, pawing, the roar of the bear provesthis death’s valor, the makes of a legend.My thoughts can yet determine my ending.In sleep? Passive? My death is my sending.


Poetic Forms

LimerickDEFINITION: a humorous, musical-feeling poem that oftentimes makes fun of or tells a story about a specific person.

LImerick

There once was a ThingamajigLike a Whatsis, but three times as big.When it first came in view,It looked something like youBut it stayed and turned into a pig.

Poetic Forms

LimerickDEFINITION: a humorous, musical-feeling poem that oftentimes makes fun of or tells a story about a specific person.

Length – 5 lines 3 beats – 3 beats – 2 beats – 2 beats – 3 beats Rhyme scheme: A-A-B-B-A

LImerick

There was a young fellow who thoughtVery little, but thought it a lot.Then at long last he knewWhat he wanted to do,But before he could start, he forgot.

LImerick

There once was an ape in a zooWho looked out through the bars and saw YOU!Do you think that it’s fairTo give poor apes a scare?I think it’s a mean thing to do.

LImerick

I've been studying all night and I'm tired,But I can't sleep because I'm so wired.So I'll play on the net'Stead of going to bed,And my tests will seem a quagmire.

Poetic Forms

OdeDEFINITION: a formal lyric poem with a serious theme. It is usually long and may be written for a private occasion or a public ceremony. Odes often honor people, commemorate events, or respond to natural scenes.

Length – usually long No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

OdeWilliam Wordsworth’s “Ode Composed on a May Morning”

While from the purpling east departsThe star that led the dawn,Blithe Flora from her couch upstarts,For May is on the lawn.A quickening hope, a freshening glee,Foreran the expected Power,Whose first-drawn breath, from bush and tree,Shakes off that pearly shower . . .

Poetic Forms

ElegyDEFINITION: a solemn and formal lyric poem about death. It may mourn a particular person or reflect on a serious or tragic theme, such as the passing of youth, beauty, or a way of life

No length requirements No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

ElegyThomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”

. . . Here rests his head upon the lap of EarthA youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown.Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth,And Melancholy marked him for her own.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,Heaven did a recompense as largely send:He gave to Misery all he had, a tear,He gained from Heaven ('twas all he wish'd) a friend.

PoeticTechniques

Poetic TECHNIQUES

LineDEFINITION: basic structural component of a poem. Literally, a row of words that ends somewhere.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

StanzaDEFINITION: a formal division of lines in a poem that is considered as a unit. Separated by spaces. Like prose paragraphs, only for poetry. Conveys a single idea.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Types of StanzasCouplet

Triplet (tercet)Quatrain

Quintet (cinquain)Sestet (sextet)

Septet (heptastich)Octave

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2-line stanza3-line stanza4-line stanza5-line stanza6-line stanza7-line stanza8-line stanza

Poetic TECHNIQUES

MeterDEFINITION: the rhythmical pattern of the poem. Determined by the number of stresses or beats in each line.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

FootDEFINITION: a basic unit of a meter. Normally contains either two or three syllables with varying patterns of stress.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Types of Metermonometer

dimetertrimeter

tetrameterpentameterhexameter

heptameteroctometer

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1 foot per line2 feet per line3 feet per line4 feet per line5 feet per line6 feet per line7 feet per line8 feet per line

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Now practice them aloud…monometer

dimetertrimeter

tetrameterpentameterhexameter

heptameteroctometer

========

mon – ah – meh – terdih – meh – ter trih – meh – terteh – tra – meh – ter pen – ta – meh – ter hex – a – meh – terhept – a – meh – ter oct – ah – meh – ter

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Types of Feetiambic –

trochaic – anapestic –

dactylic –

unstressed, stressedstressed, unstressedunstressed, unstressed, stressedstressed, unstressed, unstressed

˘ // ˘ ˘ ˘ /

/ ˘ ˘

before

˘ /liste

n

/ ˘

[iambic] [trochaic]in a jiff

˘ ˘ /

[anapestic]

run in a

/ ˘ ˘

[dactylic]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Two households, both alike in DIGNITY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10(In fair Verona, where we lay our SCENE),

˘ /

FOOT


A

B

FOOT FOOTFOOT FOOT

Type of foot =Type of meter =

iambicpentameter

˘ /

˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

˘ / ˘ /

FOOTLimerick

A

A

B

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8There once was an ape in a zoo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9Who looked out through the bars and saw YOU! 1 2 3 4 5 6Do you think that it’s fair

FOOT FOOT


anapestictrimeter

˘ /

˘ ˘ /

˘ ˘ /

˘ ˘ /

˘ ˘ /

˘ ˘ /

˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ /

FOOTby Timothy Steele

A

A

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8First come I; my name is Jowett. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8There’s no knowledge but I know it.

FOOT FOOT


trochaictetrameter

/ ˘ / ˘

/ ˘

/ ˘

/ ˘

/ ˘

/ ˘

FOOT

/ ˘

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Types of RhymesEnd/Audible –

Visual – Near/Incomplete –

Internal –

words at the ends of lines rhymewords look like they should rhyme(see assonance & alliteration)words inside the line rhyme with words at the end of the line

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Rhyme SchemeDEFINITION: a regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem. Each new rhyme is assigned the next letter of the alphabet, while repeat sounds get whatever letter they were first assigned.

What’s the rhyme scheme?

You would not believe your eyesIf ten million firefliesLit up the world as I fell asleepCause they fill the open airAnd leave teardrops everywhereYou'd think me rude, but IWould just stand and stare.

I'd like to make myself believeThat planet Earth turns slowly.It's hard to say that I'dRather stay awake when I'm asleep,Cause everything is never as it seems.

From “Fireflies” by Owl CityAABCCAC

BBABB

Poetic TECHNIQUES

AlliterationDEFINITION: the repetition of initial consonant sounds. Writers use alliteration to draw attention to certain words or ideas, to imitate sounds, and to create musical effects.

AlliterationPaul McCann’s “Dewdrops Dancing Down Daisies”

Don't delay dawns disarming display. Dusk demands daylight. Dewdrops dwell delicatelydrawing dazzling delight.Dewdrops dilute daisies domain. Distinguished debutantes. Diamonds defray delivereddaylights distilled daisy dance.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

AssonanceDEFINITION: the effect created when words with the same vowel sound are used in close proximity, but where the consonant sounds in these words are different.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

ConsonanceDEFINITION: the effect created when words with the same consonant sound are used in close proximity, but where the vowel sounds in these words are different.

alliteration

AssonanceCormac McCarthy’s Outer Dark

And stepping softly with her air of blooded ruin about the glade in a frail agony of grace she trailed her rags through dust and ashes, circling the dead fire, the charred billets and chalk bones, the little calcined ribcage.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Free VerseDEFINITION: poetry not written in a regular, rhythmical pattern, or meter. The poet is free to write lines of any length or with any number of stresses, or beats. Free verse is therefore less constraining than metrical verse, in which every line must have a certain length and a certain number of stresses.

Poetic TECHNIQUES

Blank VerseDEFINITION: Poetry without a rhyme scheme, but it has meter of some kind.

Blank verseFLAVIUS Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home:Is this a holiday? what! know you not,Being mechanical, you ought not walkUpon a labouring day without the signOf your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?

First Commoner Why, sir, a carpenter.

MARULLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?What dost thou with thy best apparel on?You, sir, what trade are you?

Second Commoner Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but,as you would say, a cobbler.

From

willia

m sh

ake

speare

’sJu

lius ca

esa

r

Poetic TECHNIQUES

RefrainDEFINITION: a regularly repeated line or group of lines in a poem or a song

RefrainVERSELove me cancerouslyLike a salt-sore soaked in the sea.'High-maintenance' meansYou're a gluttonous queenNarcissistic and mean.Kill me romanticallyFill my soul with vomitThen ask me for a piece of gum.Bitter and dumbYou're my sugarplum.You're awful, I love you!

From

Lud

o’s “Lo

ve M

e D

ead”

REFRAIN (CHORUS)She moves through moonbeams slowlyShe knows just how to hold meAnd when her edges softenHer body is my coffinI know she drains me slowly

PoeticDevices

Poetic Devices

SimileDEFINITION: a figure of speech that uses like or as to make a direct comparison between two unlike ideas.

EXAMPLES:

He is as tall as a redwood tree.

She runs like a snail.

Poetic Devices

MetaphorDEFINITION: a figure of speech that describes something as though it were something else.

EXAMPLES:

from Tombstone >>> “Why Wyatt, you’re an oak.”

You are such a stick in the mud.

Poetic Devices

IdiomDEFINITION: an expression that has a meaning particular to a language or region. A phrase in which the literal meaning of the words does not add up to the actual meaning.

idiomsEXAMPLES:

to go bananas =

on pins and needles =

hit the ground running =

copycat =

in the doghouse =

fly off the handle =

to get super excited

waiting with much anxiety

to get a quick start on something

someone who copies or mimics

on someone’s bad side / in trouble

to get super angry, very fast

Poetic Devices

AnalogyDEFINITION: makes a comparison between two or more things that are similar in some ways but otherwise unalike – typically, A : B :: C : D – 2 things compared to 2 things.

EXAMPLES:

A glove is to hand as monitor is to computer.

Horses are to past societies as computers are to future societies.

Poetic Devices

HyperboleDEFINITION: obvious and intentional exaggeration

EXAMPLES:

These books weigh a ton.

I’m so tired I could sleep for a year.

Poetic Devices

LitoteDEFINITION: a form of understatement, always

deliberate and with the intention of emphasis. Oftentimes, comes in the form of sarcasm or complaint.

EXAMPLES:

His skin is as smooth as sandpaper.

“Yeah, you’re hilarious.”

“But I’m not going to have anything to wear.”

Poetic Devices

SymbolDEFINITION: anything that stands for or represents something else. Symbols are common in everyday life.

EXAMPLES:

See the following slides…

What do the following

things usually stand for in

literature and film?

the color black

the color white

the color green

the color blue

Poetic Devices

PersonificationDEFINITION: a type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics.

EXAMPLES:

Nature speaks to people.

The window winked at me.

Poetic Devices

PunDEFINITION: the humorous use of a word or phrase to emphasize or suggest different meanings or applications; words that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words.

EXAMPLES:

Illusionists always find themselves in tricky situations.

Romance isn't a science . . . it's a heart.

PunSee www.PunOfTheDay.com

http://www.punoftheday.com/cgi-bin/disppuns.pl?ord=F&cat=0&sub=0&page=1

Poetic Devices

IronyDEFINITION: literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions

EXAMPLES:

from Sideshow Bob on the Simpsons:“I'm aware of the irony of appearing on TV in order to decry it.” (decry - condemn or denounce)

Poetic Devices

ParodyDEFINITION: a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing

EXAMPLES:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Parry Hotter and the Seamy Side of Magic

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Poetic Devices

OnomatopoeiaDEFINITION: the use of words that imitate sounds and can help put the reader in the activity of a poem.

EXAMPLES:

Thump

Squish

Phlblblbplb

Thwack

Kerplunk

Splink

POETRY

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