Download How to Read Poetry - Delano High School

Language Arts 8 Notes
What is Poetry?
• Literature in verse either
rhymed or unrhymed.
• It is intended to be read
aloud for its greatest
effect.
What is the language of poetry?
• The language of poetry appeals to
the senses and is grouped under
figurative language or figures of
speech.
Absolute Rule #1
• Do not read line by line!
• Read sentence by sentence.
• Pay close attention to the
punctuation!!!
Absolute Rule #2
• Words are often out of their
normal word order – just as in
song lyrics
• If a sentence is puzzling, look for
the subject and verb and put it
in order.
Absolute Rule #3
• Don’t let single words trip you
up!
• Don’t move on to the next
sentence until you know what
each word/line means!
Poetry Terms to Know:
• The Basics of Poetry – All lines begin
with a capital letter. Any and all
punctuation becomes extremely
important in all lines. Poems are often
organized into stanzas.
• Stanza – AKA: Verse – A paragraph in
poetry. In rhyming poetry, it is
grouped by the rhyme pattern.
Poetry Terms to know…
• End-stopped Lines – lines have end
punctuation. Emphasis should be placed
on this punctuation.
• Run-on Lines – There is no punctuation at
the end of the lines. The reader should not
stop, but go on to the next line.
• Free Verse – Often does not follow poetry
basics. There is no rhyme pattern, but
often an internal rhyme.
Poetry terms to know…
• Rhyme – a repitition of identical or
similar sounds in two or more
different words. Most often used in
poetry.
• Repetition – the repeating of words,
phrases, or letters.
Figurative Language
Also known as poetic devices, figures
of speech, literary devices and literary
elements.
**The use of words, phrases, symbols,
and ideas to create mental images and
sense impressions.
Imagery
• Words/phrases that appeal to the five
senses.
• Example: The rich, thick chocolate fudge
oozed down the sides of the vanilla ice
cream.
Simile
A comparison of two things using “like” or
“as”.
Example: The pillow was as soft as a cloud.
Metaphor
A comparison of two things without using
“like” or “as”.
Example: The pillow was a cloud.
Alliteration
Words that begin with the same
CONSONANT sounds.
Example: tongue twisters – “Sally sells
seashells by the seashore”.
Onomatopoeia
The use of words whose sounds suggest
their meanings.
Example: Bang! Snap! Buzz! Yeow!
Personification
Giving human characteristics to an
inanimate object.
Example: The dog danced and swayed to
the music.
Analogy
A likeness or similarity between things that
are otherwise unalike.
Example:
Similar to wolves circling their prey, the
journalists swarmed Justin Bieber.
Idiom
An expression not meant to be taken
literally.
Example: break a date; get lost; make the
bed
Oxymoron
A figure of speech containing two
seemingly contradictory expressions.
Example: jumbo shrimp, pretty ugly
Hyperbole
A huge exaggeration
Example: I am so hungry I could eat a horse!
I told you that a million times already!
Metonymy
One word or phrase is substituted for
another with which it is closely associated.
Substituting the name of an attribute or
feature for the name of the thing itself.
Example: The Oval Office sent in the
troops.
The suits walked into the office.
Synecdoche
One word that stands for a larger item or
body of things (directly connected); a part
to a whole.
Example: All ears and eyes on me!
All hands on deck!!
Assonance
Repetition of the same VOWEL sound
Example: Poetry is so old that nobody
knows how the first poem goes.
Now you try!!
Find a partner for writing your own
examples!
1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Personification
4. metaphor