Poetry and devices of figurative literature

1. Poetry and devices of figurative literature SC Standards: • 7-1.3 Interpret devices of figurative language (including extendedmetaphor and oxymoron). • 7-1.5 Interpret the effect of an author’s craft (including tone and the use of imagery, flashback, foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony) on the meaning of literarytexts.

2. ~We have tomorrow right before us like a flame.~ LANGSTON HUGHES (1902-1967) ~Dream Deferred~ What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load, Or does it just explode? deferred - To put something off until a later time.

3. Devices of figurative language • Alliteration- repetition of initial consonant sounds close together, meant to be tongue twisters meant to be written for fun. • Onomatopoeia-words sound like their meaning • Simile- comparison of two unlike things using like or as. • Metaphors- a direct comparison of two unlike things. • Extended metaphors- a metaphor that goes several lines or possibly the whole length of the work. • Hyperbole-exaggeration often used for emphasis. • Idiom-means something other than what is stated. • Personification- Giving human qualities to an animal, idea, or object. • Oxymoron-Two words used together that contradict one another.

4. Alliteration . . .helps us appreciate the sounds and beauty of words. R . . . R . . . R Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Teacher’s Doomby Anonymous Row, row, row your boatgently down the stream,throw your teacher overboard and listen to her scream! Help . . . . S . . . S . . . S

5. More Alliteration . . .helps us appreciate the sounds and beauty of words. S . . . S . . . S This is just an excerpt of the poem . . . SARAH CYNTHIA SYLVIA STOUT by Shel Silverstein Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out. She’d wash the dishes and scrub the pans, Cook the yams and spice the hams, And though her parents would scream and shout, She simply would not take the garbage out. And so it piled up to the ceiling: Coffee grounds, potato peelings, Brown bananas and rotten peas, Chunks of sour cottage cheese. Help . . . .

6. Buzz! Boom! Slurp! Cafeteria By Rachel Boom!Went the food trays. Clap! Clap!Goes the teacher.Rip! Went the plastic bag.Munch! Munch!Go the students.Slurp!!!Went the straws.Whisper is what half the kidsin the room are doing.Crunch! Crunch!Go the candy bars. Clap! Rip! Whisper Munch! Onomatopoeia-makes language fun to say and hear.

7. Simile . . . creates a vivid picture from I am Nobody, Who Are You? By Emily Dickinson How dreary to be somebody!How public like a frog, To tell your name the livelong dayTo an admiring bog!

8. Metaphor . . .Direct comparison of two unlike things “All the world’s a stage and we are merely players.” ~William Shakespeare

9. Extended Metaphor -a metaphor that goes several lines or possibly the whole length of the work. My Mum by Lisa a student My mum is a general.She stalks through the housetelling me what to do.She then sleeps throughout the night.But when she wakes up.....her medals clanking, stars shining& roars us to attentionshe barks orders as she chargesthrough the house:" Lisa, do the dishes ! "" Lisa, clean your room ! "then crawls back to her bedroomwhile we, her dutiful soldierscarry out her orders.

10. Hyperbole-exaggeration often used for emphasis. "I had so much homework, I needed a pickup truck to carry all my books home!"

11. Idiom-means something other than what is stated. It is raining cats and dogs! I am as hungry as a horse! I am freezing to death!

12. Personification-an animal given humanlike qualities or an object given lifelike qualities. These help us understand our human qualities. The Burp by Anonymous Pardon me for being rude.It was not me, it was my food.It got so lonely down below,it just popped up to say hello. Pardon me!

13. Oxymoron-Two words used together that contradict one another. A Fine MessA little biga little pregnantA new classicabsolutely unsureAccidentally on Purpose accurate estimate accurate rumorsAct Naturallyactive retirementactual reenactment adult children

14. Elements of Poetry • Rhyme scheme- a pattern of rhyme, usually endrhyme, but not always. • Refrain-a sound, word, phrase, or line repeated regularly in a poem. • Stanza-a group of lines of a poem arranged together. • Imagery-language that appeals to the senses. • Symbolism-when a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself, also stands for something else.

15. Rhyme scheme- a pattern of rhyme, usually end rhyme, but not always. You use the alphabet to label each matching end rhyme. Bear (a) Care (a) Steel (b) Real (b) Bold (c) Mold (c) Do (d) True (d) Too (d) Right (e) Fight (e) Clear (a) Hear (a) Unnerved ( f ) Word ( f ) Stand (g) Peace (h) Cease (h) Trust (i) Must (i) “The Leader,” an anonymous poem Patient and steady with all he must bear,Ready to meet every challenge with care,Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,Strong in his faith, refreshingly real.Isn’t afraid to propose what is bold,Doesn’t conform to the usual mold,Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won’t do,Never backs down when he sees what is true,Tells it all straight, and means it all too.Going forward and knowing he’s right,Even when doubted for why he would fight,Over and over he makes his case clear,Reaching to touch the ones who won’t hear.Growing in strength, he won’t be unnerved,Ever assuring he’ll stand by his word.Wanting the world to join his firm stand,Bracing for war, but praying for peace,Using his power so evil will cease,So much a leader and worthy of trust,Here stands a man who will do what he must. Rhyme Scheme

16. Refrain-a sound, word, phrase, or line repeated regularly in a poem. " Nothing More" and “Nevermore” which are repeated in “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe.

17. Stanza-a group of lines of a poem arranged together. Do not go Gentle into that Good NightbyDylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.  

18. Imagery-language that appeals to the senses. Example of Imagery excerpt from The Love Song of J. Alfred PrufrockbyT. S. Eliot Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherised upon a table; Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells . . .

19. Symbolism-when a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself, also stands for something else. What does the eagle stand for ? What does the lamb stand for ? What does the dove stand for ?

20. YOU’RE A STAR! You know all there is to know about poetry and figurative language . . . Now let’s get writing!!!!!!!!!!

21. Bibliography Poetry As We See It http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/omomatopoea.html Giggle Poetry http://www.gigglepoetry.com/ The Poet’s Bookshelf http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/poets/poet.htm