Our Poetry

1. Our Poetry Vocabulary and Mini Lessons

2. “Annabel Lee” • winged – having wings • (pronounced wing-ed) • seraphs – angels • kinsmen – relatives • sepulcher – tomb • (pronounced sep-ul-ker) • coveted – to wish for with great envy

3. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” • immortality – living forever • haste – hurry • civility – politeness • tulle – (pronounced “tool”) • a net-like fabric often used in wedding veils • gossamer – a light-weight, delicate fabric • cornice – the decorative piece that forms the top edge of a building or column and often extends beyond it • surmised – decided or guessed

4. Mini Lesson # ___ “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by: Emily Dickinson G? What literary devices does the Dickinson use to enrich her writing?

5. Personification • The giving of human qualities to the non-human • “Because I could not stop for Death/He kindly stopped for me . . .”

6. Alliteration • The repetition of consonant sounds within lines of poetry • “ . . . For only Gossamer, my Gown/My Tippet only Tulle . . .”

7. “Big Yellow Taxi” • DDT – (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) • A toxic insecticide

8. “The Choice” • billowing – a rolling mass like a wave • smoldering – red, like a slow smoky fire • lilting – in a lively, cheerful manner

9. “Crossing the Bar” • moaning – a long, low sound indicating pain or grief • embark – depart, leave • bourne – limit, destination

10. “The Day is Done” • wafted – to float lightly in the breeze or waves • akin – similar to • banish – to drive or force away • “bards sublime” famous, old poets (like Shakespeare) • martial – suited for a warrior or war • toll – costs, price paid • endeavor – efforts, work • devoid – without • benediction – an expression of good wishes

11. placidly – peacefully, calmly amid – in the middle of haste – hurry vexations – causes of trouble or worry feign – pretend cynical – doubtful aridity – dryness disenchantment – disappointments perennial – returning year after year labors and aspirations – work and goals sham – fake drudgery – hard or dull work “Desiderata”

12. “DreamsLead the Heart” • vivid – bright, bold • falters – moves unsteadily

13. Mini Lesson #__ “Dreams Lead the Heart” by: Margaret Sangster G?: What literary devices does Sangster use to enrich her writing?

14. Personification • The use of human qualities to portray the non-human • “ . . . There is no dream so small but its slim fingers/May point the path to all that life holds best . . .”

15. “The Eagle” • clasps – grabs (as if by claws) • crag – a steep rugged rock or cliff • azure – the color of a clear blue sky

16. “Fog” haunches – rear legs

17. Mini Lesson # ___ • “The Eagle,” by: Alfred, Lord Tennyson • “Fog,” by: Carl Sandburg • “the drum,” by: Nikki Giovanni GQ: What makes imagery imagery?

18. Imagery • Language that a poet or writer uses to help a reader re-create a mental “image” of a scene • Uses the senses to how something looks, smells, tastes, sounds, feels

19. “The Forecast” sprawl – to spread out or lie about

20. “For My Sister Molly Who in the Fifties” • Eatonton (Georgia) • Walker’s hometown

21. “Friendship” • chaff- the trashy matter separated from the seed when threshing grain • sift – to separate • (in this case, the good from the bad)

22. blustering – to move in a noisy, boastful way “in vain” – without success crest – the upper part or point boughs – branches “mail”- armor made of small metal links margin – edge or border bevies- a large group of cupboard- (pronounced “cub-bard”) kitchen cabinet “tchick” – the sound of breaking glass An example of onomatopoeia “The Frost”

23. Mini Lesson # __ “The Frost,” by Hannah Flagg Gould • G? What literary devices does Gould use to enrich her writing?

24. Personification • A type of figurative language in which a non-human subject is given human qualities • Frost talks, looks, thinks, etc.

25. Onomatopoeia • The use of words to imitate sounds • Examples: crash, buzz, hiss, jingle, cluck • “tchick” creates the sound of cracking glass

26. Rhyme scheme • AAAB CCCB

27. Alliteration • The repetition of consonant sounds • such as “bevies of birds”

28. “If” • imposter – pretender • knaves – persons of low-class birth • pitch-and-toss – a gamble • sinew – tendons that hold muscles in place • virtue – good moral conduct

29. “Incident in a Rose Garden” • scythe – (pronounced “syth”) • A gardening tool with a curved blade and a long handle • the Grim Reaper’s tool of choice • beckoned – called or signaled as if to invite

30. Mini Lesson #__ “Incident in a Rose Garden” by: Donald Justice G? What literary devices does Justice use to enrich his writing?

31. Personification • Applying human qualities to non-human entities • “ . . .Death/ . . . stood there . . . [and] . . . He would have spoken . . .”

32. Simile • A comparison of 2 elements using “like” or “as” • “ . . .Death/ . . .Thin as a scythe . . .stood there . . .”

33. Irony • What occurs is the opposite of what is expected to happen • The master assumes that Death would never come for him (because of his position, wealth, age, etc.)

34. “Invictus” • fell – dangerous • winced – to shrink back as if in pain • clutch – grasp • circumstance – situation • bludgeonings – beatings • wrath – violent anger • looms – hangs around • menace – danger • strait – distressed or confused

35. Mini Lesson # ___ “Invictus” by: William Ernest Henley G? What literary devices does Henley use to enrich his writing?

36. Rhyme Scheme • A rhyme pattern present at the end of poetry lines • abab

37. Alliteration • The repetition of consonant sounds within lines of poetry • “ . . . Black as the pit from pole to pole . . . ” • “Under the bludgeonings of chance/My head is bloody, but unbowed . . .”

38. “A Life on the Ocean” • revels – a noisy celebration • rave – move about wildly • brine – salty, sea water • gale – a strong wind • stout – strong and sturdy • tempest- chaos and commotion • pine – to long for something very much • abaft – toward the stern or rear end of the boat

39. Mini Lesson #___ “A Life on the Ocean Wave” by: Epes Sargent G? What literary devices does Sargent use to enrich his writing?

40. Personification • The use of human qualities or actions to portray the non-human • “. . .The clouds have begun to frown . . .”

41. Similes • A comparison using “like” or “as” • “like a caged eagle” • “like an ocean-bird”

42. Rhyme scheme • A pattern of end-line rhyme • ABABCDCD

43. “Living” • woo/court- to try to gain the love of • bliss – something that brings happiness • fondle/caress – to touch or handle in tender or loving way • advent – the first appearance or arrival • hail – greet • attain – achieve, get

44. “Love” • tavern – a drinking bar • reproach – deserving shame or disgrace • creed – a statement of beliefs or guiding principles

45. “Mother to Son” • stair – short form of “staircase” • tacks – small nails • landing – the level part of a staircase

46. Mini Lesson # ___ “Mother to Son” by: Langston Hughes G? Who is the speaker of a poem?

47. The speaker • Definition: the voice that speaks the poem’s words • a person whose attitude and personality are created by the poet. 2. The title gives clues about the speaker. 3. The poem generally shares speaker’s experiences and offers advice based on that experience. 4. Important: The speaker may or may not be the poet.

48. “The New Colossus” • brazen – sounding loud and harsh • exiles – someone who is forced to leave his home country • storied – having an interesting history • pomp – a show of magnificence or splendor • wretched – miserable or unhappy • refuse – (pronounced “ref-use”) • worthless, garbage • teeming – filled • tempest-tost – tossed about in commotion or chaos

49. Mini Lesson # __ “The New Colossus” by: Emma Lazarus G? What literary devices does Lazarus use to enrich her writing?

50. Rhyme Scheme • A pattern of end-line rhyme • abbaa