POETRY

1. POETRY EXPRESS YOURSELF!

2. RHYME SCHEME • Some poems rhyme and some do not! • Poems that do not have a rhyme scheme are called free verse. • Rhyme is an important tool in the poet's toolbox. Traditional poetry forms such as limericks and sonnets often use rhyme in specific patterns. But even if you are writing free verse, you can use rhyme when it helps you create desired effects.

3. There are many reasons why you might choose to use rhyme: • To give pleasure. Rhyme, done well, is pleasing to the ear. It adds a musical element to the poem, and creates a feeling of "rightness," of pieces fitting together. It also makes a poem easier to memorize, since the rhyme echoes in the reader's mind afterward, like a melody.

4. There are many reasons why you might choose to use rhyme: • To deepen meaning. Rhyming two or more words draws attention to them and connects them in the reader's mind.

5. There are many reasons why you might choose to use rhyme: • To strengthen form. In many traditional forms, a regular pattern of rhymes are at the ends of the lines. This means that even if the poem is being read out loud, listeners can easily hear where the lines end, and can hear the shape of the poem.

6. Rhyme schemes - internal rhymes and end rhymes • When the last word in a line of poetry rhymes with the last word in another line, this is called an end rhyme. Many traditional poetry forms use end rhymes. • When words in the middle of a line of poetry rhyme with each other, this is called an internal rhyme.

7. Try it! • Below is part of a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Can you find the internal rhymes and end rhymes? The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,The furrow followed free;We were the first that ever burstInto that silent sea. • In this example, "blew"-"flew," and "first"-"burst" are internal rhymes. "Free" and "sea" are end rhymes.

8. Rhyme schemes - true rhymes and off-rhymes • "Smart" and "art"; "fellow" and "yellow"; "surgery" and perjury" -- these are all examples of true rhymes, or exact rhymes because the final vowel and consonant sounds (or the final syllables in the longer words) are exact matches to the ear. • "Fate" and "saint"; "work" and "spark"; are examples of off-rhymes, or slant-rhymes. In each case, part of the sound matches exactly, but part of it doesn't.

9. Rhyme schemes • The pattern of rhymes in a poem is written with the letters a, b, c, d, etc. The first set of lines that rhyme at the end are marked with a. The second set are marked with b. So, in a poem with the rhyme scheme abab, the first line rhymes with the third line, and the second line rhymes with the fourth line. In a poem with the rhyme scheme abcb, the second line rhymes with the fourth line, but the first and third lines don't rhyme with each other.

10. abab • Here's an example of an abab rhyme scheme from a poem by Robert Herrick: • GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,Old Time is still a-flying:And this same flower that smiles to-dayTo-morrow will be dying.

11. abcb • Here's an example of an abcb rhyme scheme. • The itsy bitsy spider (a)Went up the water spout (b)Down came the rain (c)And washed the spider out (b)

12. aabccb • This one's aabccb: • Little Miss MuffetSat on a tuffetEating her curds and whey.Along came a spiderAnd sat down beside herAnd frightened Miss Muffett away.

13. Limericks • Can you figure out the rhyme scheme in this limerick by Edward Lear (1812-1888)? • There was an old man of the coastWho placidly sat on a postBut when it was coldHe relinquished his holdAnd called for some hot buttered toast.

14. SonnetsThe rhyme scheme is ababcdcdefefgg. • Desperation by Guppie Stokes • What will I write about in this sonnet? Of who's existence I really don't care... Why, just the thought of doing it Makes me feel the need for fresh air! I cannot recall if it was to be themed; And really do not know why it's required. It makes us write things that we daydreamed; I am convinced all English teachers are wired! But in a few months we shall be freed Of this tiresome, troublesome task... And nevermore will we have to plead, But be able to relax and sun-bask! Eureka! I've completed this dreadful sonnet, And sustain high hopes of recieving an 'A' on it!

15. What kind of poem is this? • The Skylark by Christina Rossetti • The earth was green, the sky was blue: I saw and heard one sunny morn, A skylark hang between the two, A singing speck above the corn; A stage below, in gay accord, White butterflies danced on the wing, And still the singing skylark soared, And silent sank and soared to sing. The cornfield stretched a tender green To right and left beside my walks; I knew he had a nest unseen Somewhere among the million stalks: And as I paused to hear his song, While swift the sunny moments slid, Perhaps his mate sat listening long, And listened longer than I did.

16. Is this a limerick or a sonnet?What is the rhyme scheme? • Yet one smile more, departing, distant sun,One mellow smile through the soft vapory air,Ere, o'er the frozen earth, the loud winds run,Or snows are sifted o'er the meadow bare.One smile on the brown hills and naked treesAnd the dark rocks whose summer wreaths are cast,And the blue Gentian flower, that, in the breeze,Nods lonely, of her beauteous race the last.Yet a few sunny days, in which the beeShall murmur by the hedge that skirts the way,The cricket chirp upon the russet lea,And man delight to linger in thy ray.Yet one rich smile, and we will try to bearThe piercing winter frost, and winds, and darkened air.— William Cullen Bryant.

17. Find the alliteration. Find the metaphor. • Author: Jenna Susan Reed, USA • Poem Forest Fire • The mighty flames grow bright and brilliant,Consuming life with billowing black smokeAnd flashing fire, eating every plantFrom blueberry bush to the mighty oak.The animals all hide and flee the flame.They desperately all try to steal awayFrom the large glowing beast that won’t be tamed.The forest fire burns away the day.The sunny day turns into shadowed nightAnd countless, small white stars replace the sun.The burning, heated forest pyre lightContinues fighting. It is never done • For the last dying ember is not gone,Because it lies in the hearts of the strong.

18. Find the personification. • Rachel Elizabeth Synan, USA • Poem OCEAN DEEP • The tide is swept along the shoreWhile standing quiet in this placeAll the seagulls cry for moreAmong the reeds the birds are spaced.The sun, in crashing waves reflectsIts beauty, shining through the deepOne pure light, without defectWhile setting, puts the world to sleep.With a mighty roar and crashCasting shells upon the beachThe waves against the rocks are bashed And gulls fly out of water's reach.Of the depths no need to fearOnly beauty resides here.

19. Jonathan Ashley Bell, New Zealand • Poem STORM • The rain will bash hard on the roofAnd wind will then assault the walls.The corrugated iron dips let water sootheAnd sail but then abruptly fling and fall • Into a swifter stream which overflowsAnd laps and then again falls to abyss.Halt you wind, the walls need rest. Go slow.While fury blasts and blustery blows hiss, • The angled rain sees path to go through screen,But strikes the windows with a metal beak.Thunder growls at roof and walls while lightning sheensFlash. The house lights up. • Yet yonder in the field the grass and treesAre gently swaying in the speedy breeze.

20. Rhyming • Couplets are made up of two lines whose last words rhyme. They are often silly.An example is – An apple a day Keeps the doctor away! • Triplets are made up of three lines. The rhyming pattern can be AAA or ABA.An example is -What a fine day To go out to play In the month of May. • Quatrains are made up of four lines. The rhyming pattern can be AABB or ABAB.An example is - The Purple Cow by Gelett Burgess • I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one: But I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see than be one.

21. Assignment: • Write five poems. • Write one with an aabb rhyme scheme, and two stanzas. • Write one with an abab rhyme scheme, and four stanzas. • A free verse poem. • A limerick. • A sonnet. • Try to use alliteration, a simile, a metaphor, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, and internal rhyme.