Poetry Introduction: Poetry Terms

1. Poetry Introduction: Poetry Terms

2. as dead as the dodo as dead as a doornail as different as chalk from cheese as dry as a bone as dry as dust as dull as dishwater as flat as a pancake as free as a bird as fresh as a daisy as gentle as a lamb as good as gold as happy as a lark as hard as nails What do all of these phrases have in common?

3. as dead as the dodo as deaf as a post as different as chalk from cheese as dry as a bone as dry as dust as dull as dishwater as flat as a pancake as free as a bird as fresh as a daisy as gentle as a lamb as good as gold as happy as a lark as hard as nails They're all SIMILES!

4. Simile – a comparison of two unlike things; uses ‘like,’ ‘as,’ ‘resembles,’ and ‘than’ • Example – Red as a cherry; Looks like a million dollars

5. America is a melting pot. John is a real pig when he eats. My father is a rock. Her home was a prison. George is a sheep. He was a lion in battle. What do all of these phrases have in common?

6. America is a melting pot. John is a real pig when he eats. My father is a rock. Her home was a prison. George is a sheep. He was a lion in battle. They're all METAPHORS!

7. Metaphor – a comparison of two unlike things; does NOT use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ • Example – She is a treasure. He is a rock.

8. Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid before they could be heard. What do these sentences have in common?

9. Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid before they could be heard. They both use HYPERBOLE.

10. Hyperbole – when the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect • Example: I had a ton of homework; I have a million things to do

11. The candle flame danced in the dark. Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for duty. The moon turned over to face the day. As fall turned to winter, the trees found themselves wearing white. The brown grass was begging for water. Our society needs strong leaders. One unhappy icicle wasted away in the day. The sunflowers nodded in the wind The silence crept into the classroom. Father Time can always catch up to you, no matter how fast you run. This city never sleeps. The sun stretched its golden arms across the plains. What do these sentences have in common?

12. The candle flame danced in the dark. Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for duty. The moon turned over to face the day. As fall turned to winter, the trees found themselves wearing white. The brown grass was begging for water. Our society needs strong leaders. One unhappy icicle wasted away in the day. The sunflowers nodded in the wind The silence crept into the classroom. Father Time can always catch up to you, no matter how fast you run. This city never sleeps. The sun stretched its golden arms across the plains. The all use PERSONIFICATION!

13. Personification – giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea • Example: The tree dance. The fire ran wild

14. It was dark and dim in the forest. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric. The fresh and juicy oranges are very cold and sweet. Bella grasped Edward's icy hand. The audience erupted in applause as a result of the play. What do these sentences have in common?

15. It was dark and dim in the forest. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric. The fresh and juicy oranges are very cold and sweet. Bella grasped Edward's icy hand. The audience erupted in applause as a result of the play. They all use IMAGERY!

16. Imagery – words and phrases that appeal to a reader’s five senses • Example – The freezing wind brushed my face; the smell of dinner was near.

17. Dog goes woof.Cat goes meow.Bird goes tweet,and mouse goes squeak.Cow goes moo.Frog goes croak,and the elephant goes toot.Ducks say quack,and fish go blub,and the seal goes ow ow ow.What do these lines have in common?

18. Dog goes woof.Cat goes meow.Bird goes tweet,and mouse goes squeak.Cow goes moo.Frog goes croak,and the elephant goes toot.Ducks say quack,and fish go blub,and the seal goes ow ow ow.They all contain ONOMATOPOEIA!

19. Onomatopoeia – the use of words whose sounds echo their meanings • Example: buzz, whisper, murmur, vroom, squish

20. Why would authors use the examples of figurative language we have defined?

21. Alliteration The repetition of similar sounds Consonance

22. Consonance – repetition of consonant sounds Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers Tongue twisters!

23. Rhyme Scheme End Rhyme Free-verse

24. End rhyme – poetry that rhymes at the end of each line Free verse – poetry that does not rhyme

25. Repetition – the use of a word, phrase, or line more than once in a poem

26. Why would authors use the form examples we defined?

27. Poetry Writing Activity I Step 1: Select four of the poetry devices we defined. Write these four down in your composition book. Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Personification Imagery Onomatopoeia Alliteration Consonance End Rhyme Free Verse Repetition

28. Poetry Writing Activity I Step 2: Select an animal. If you have trouble, pick one from the following list: lion, tiger, raven, snake, or whale.

29. Poetry Writing Activity I Step 3: For each device you selected, provide an original example. Example: Animal: Lion Simile: The lion stormed through the wispy savannah grass like a streak of blazing lightning. Hyperbole: The snarling lion roared so viciously, the dirt beneath my feet began to quake. Personification: The golden lion laughed with joy upon seeing me tremble. Alliteration: The lazy lion languidly laid by the lake.

30. Poetry Writing Activity I Step 4: Now, take all four of these devices, and work them into a piece of flash fiction (a really short story). This is how writers use figurative language in their writing.