Why do poets make comparisons?

1. Why do poets make comparisons? He glanced with rapid eyes That hurried all abroad, - They looked like frightened beads, I thought; He stirred his velvet head

2. In this lesson, you will learn how how to examine comparisons in a poem by picturing the items in your head.

3. Descriptive words can help us visualize a poem.

4. Nouns help us picture the setting. person Adjectives Verbs NOUN thing place

5. Thinking too literally

6. Core Lesson Comparison

7. In the Garden He glanced with rapid eyes That hurried all abroad, - They looked like frightened beads, I thought; He stirred his velvet head Why did the poet put these items together?

8. 1 • Find a comparison. 2 • Picture the items in your head. • Ask yourself, “Why did the poet put these items together?” 3

9. In this lesson, you have learned how to examine comparisons in a poem by picturing the items in your head.

10. Look at the highlighted comparison. • Picture the items in your head. • Then ask yourself, “Why did the poet put these items together?” He glanced with rapid eyes That hurried all abroad, - They looked like frightened beads, I thought; He stirred his velvet head

11. Find another poem that uses comparisons. • How do the comparisons change your visualizations?

12. Some comparisons are called “similes” and “metaphors.” • Research similes and metaphors. • Find poems that use similes or metaphors and list the ones you find.

13. Read the final two stanzas of “In the Garden.” Find a comparison to picture in your mind. Why did the poet put these items together? Like one in danger; cautious, I offered him a crumb, And he unrolled his feathers And rowed him softer home Than oars divide an ocean, Too silver for a seam Or butterflies, off banks of noon, Leap, plashless, as they swim.