Elements of Poetry

poetry

poetry

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Poetry is a type of literature that uses musical
elements of language to express thoughts and

emotions.

To understand the form and purpose of poetry.

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Poetry is written to help us understand the world around us.

→ It offers new perspectives.

→ It shows us new ways to see the world.

→ It helps us connect and empathize with one

another.

→ It helps us understand things in a deeper way.

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There are many different types of poetry. They may differ by style or by structure.

NARRATIVE

LYRICAL

SONNET

Narrative

HAIKU

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LIMERICK

FREE VERSE

EPIC

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Poems are arranged in a specific way. This

specific arrangement is the form of the poem

or the poem’s structure.

I’m nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody, too?

Then there’s a pair of us – don’t tell!

They’d advertise –you know!

How dreary to be somebody!

How public, like a frog

To tell one’s name the livelong day

To an admiring bog!

“I’m Nobody” by Emily Dickinson

LINES

Poems are arranged in lines. The lines may be

complete sentences - or they may not!
Lines help create rhythm and emphasis.

STANZAS

Lines are grouped together to form a stanza.
A stanza is like a paragraph. Stanzas may be

separated by a skipped line.

How many lines are in the poem to the

right? How many stanzas?

devices

devices

Poetic devices are the essential tools a poet uses to add a musical quality to poetry.

Poetic devices create rhythm, mood, and meaning.

SOUND DEVICES

IMAGERY

FIGURATIVE

LANGUAGE
Emphasize sound

Rhyme
Rhythm
Meter

Alliteration

Onomatopoeia

Repetition

Descriptive language

that appeals to the
readers five senses.

Touch
Sight
Sound
Taste
Smell

Nonliteral language

Simile

Metaphor

Personification

Hyperbole

Idiom

RHYME

● Words sound alike

because they share the
same ending vowel
and consonant sounds.

● (A word always

rhymes with itself.)

● LAMP

● STAMP

● Share the short “a”

vowel sound

● Share the combined

“mp” consonant sound

RHYME SCHEME

● A rhyme scheme is a pattern of rhyme (usually

end rhyme, but not always).

● Use the letters of the alphabet to represent sounds

to be able to visually “see” the pattern. (See next
slide for an example.)

SAMPLE RHYME SCHEME

● The Germ by Ogden Nash

● A mighty creature is the germ,

● Though smaller than the pachyderm.

● His customary dwelling place

● Is deep within the human race.

● His childish pride he often pleases

● By giving people strange diseases.

● Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?

● You probably contain a germ.

a
a
b
b
c
c
a
a

voice

voice

When you read a poem, you can “hear” a poetic voice. The voice in a poem may have

a unique point of view or attitude toward a subject.

SPEAKER

POINT OF

VIEW

TONE

POET

The poet is the
author of the

poem.

The speaker is the

voice that

narrates a poem.

It is an imaginary
voice created by

the poet.

The speaker may
present a unique

point of view.

It does not

necessarily reflect

the poet’s point

of view.

The speaker’s

attitude toward
his or her subject
is the tone of a
poem. It can be
described in one
word, like playful

or lonely.

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The theme of a poem is the message about life

or human nature that the poem conveys.

Often, the structure, poetic devices, and voice

contribute to the poem’s meaning.

FORM OR

STRUCTURE

POETIC

DEVICES

POETIC

VOICE

THE THEME OF THE POEM

Multiple Choice

Poetry can be defined as...

• A short poem which appeals to the senses and/or emotions

• A type of literature that expresses ideas, and feelings, or tells a story  in a specific form (usually using lines and stanzas)

• A longer poem that tells a story; it will likely include plot, setting, characters, climax and resolution.

• NOT having any repeating patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Multiple Choice

Narrative poetry can be defined as...

• A short poem which appeals to the senses and/or emotions

• A type of literature that expresses ideas, and feelings, or tells a story  in a specific form (usually using lines and stanzas)

• A longer poem that tells a story; it will likely include plot, setting, characters, climax and resolution.

• NOT having any repeating patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Match

Poetry form:

• a group of words together on one line of the poem

•  the appearance of the words on the page

• a group of lines arranged together

Line

Form

Stanza

• Line

• Form

• Stanza

Multiple Choice

Point of view in poetry: The SPEAKER is the "voice" that speaks to the reader; the poet is the author

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

End Rhyme is...

• A word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line

• A pattern of rhyme (usually end rhyme, but not always).

• Words sound alike because they share the same ending vowel and consonant sounds.

• A word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line

Multiple Choice

Rhyme Scheme is...

• A word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line

• A pattern of rhyme (usually end rhyme, but not always).

• Words sound alike because they share the same ending vowel and consonant sounds.

• A word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line

Multiple Choice

Rhyme is...

• A word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line

• A pattern of rhyme (usually end rhyme, but not always).

• Words sound alike because they share the same ending vowel and consonant sounds.

• A word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line

Match

Match the following sound effects:

• This beat can be created by can be created by meter, rhyme, alliteration and refrain.

• Words that imitate the sound they are

• The use of a word, phrase, or line more than once

Rhythm

Onomatopoeia

Repetition

• Rhythm

• Onomatopoeia

• Repetition

Fill in the Blank

Imagery appeals to the senses of:

Open Ended

Metapoetry: Write a HAIKU about this poetry lesson.