Poetry
This unit of study focuses on the wonderful world of poetry!
Poetry is an art form, designed to bring both an emotional and intellectual response from the reader/listener. It has been described as the most personal form of written expression, and involves the careful use of language to convey as much detail/feelings as possible to the reader. Poetry condenses meaning; that is, it uses few words to express something that a novelist would convey in many words.
Some of the main differences between prose (ordinary writing) and poetry are outlined below:
Poetry is an art form, designed to bring both an emotional and intellectual response from the reader/listener. It has been described as the most personal form of written expression, and involves the careful use of language to convey as much detail/feelings as possible to the reader. Poetry condenses meaning; that is, it uses few words to express something that a novelist would convey in many words.
Some of the main differences between prose (ordinary writing) and poetry are outlined below:
Poetic Devices
Poets use poetic devices to:
● communicate a message
● make their poems more interesting or beautiful
● help the reader relate to or understand the poem
● help the reader visualize or imagine the poem
● show the importance of a certain idea
Watch the short video below introducing Poetic Devices with some examples.
● communicate a message
● make their poems more interesting or beautiful
● help the reader relate to or understand the poem
● help the reader visualize or imagine the poem
● show the importance of a certain idea
Watch the short video below introducing Poetic Devices with some examples.
We will focus on the following poetic devices. CLICK BELOW to download a copy of these to your device for easy reference.
poetic_devices.docx |
Alliteration - the repetition of consonant sounds in consecutive words. Alliteration creates patterns of sound and rhythm. Neville knocked Nancy in the nose
Assonance - the repetition of similar vowel sounds in words occurring in the same sentence or phrase. How now brown cow
Simile - a form of comparison where one image is said to be like or as something else. As slow as a wet week, she moved like lightening
Metaphor - a form of comparison in which one image is identified with another, the intention being to 'transfer the meaning' from one object to another, to highlight qualities that both share. He is a lion in battle, My mother is a witch, You are a cow
Personification - a form of comparison in which abstract ideas and inanimate objects are given human qualities. Now it is loneliness who comes at night, instead of sleep, to sit beside my bed
The fog crept through the darkness, reaching her cold fingers into every nook and cranny of the town
Onomatopoeia - the use of words that sound like their meaning. buzz, slosh, plop, purr
Repetition - the deliberate use of a word, idea, phrase or image over and over again to increase its impact or reinforce its message.
Rhyme - words or syllables that have the same, or very similar sounds
Rhythm - a regular pattern of stresses and pauses in language, where certain words and phrases have more emphasis than others. Rhythm is very important, and adds to the movement or sound of a poem.
Activity: Looking at Similes, Metaphors and Personification.
CLICK BELOW to download the document so you can complete the activity.
Assonance - the repetition of similar vowel sounds in words occurring in the same sentence or phrase. How now brown cow
Simile - a form of comparison where one image is said to be like or as something else. As slow as a wet week, she moved like lightening
Metaphor - a form of comparison in which one image is identified with another, the intention being to 'transfer the meaning' from one object to another, to highlight qualities that both share. He is a lion in battle, My mother is a witch, You are a cow
Personification - a form of comparison in which abstract ideas and inanimate objects are given human qualities. Now it is loneliness who comes at night, instead of sleep, to sit beside my bed
The fog crept through the darkness, reaching her cold fingers into every nook and cranny of the town
Onomatopoeia - the use of words that sound like their meaning. buzz, slosh, plop, purr
Repetition - the deliberate use of a word, idea, phrase or image over and over again to increase its impact or reinforce its message.
Rhyme - words or syllables that have the same, or very similar sounds
Rhythm - a regular pattern of stresses and pauses in language, where certain words and phrases have more emphasis than others. Rhythm is very important, and adds to the movement or sound of a poem.
Activity: Looking at Similes, Metaphors and Personification.
CLICK BELOW to download the document so you can complete the activity.
poetry_devices_worksheet._similes_metaphor_personification.docx |
Guidelines for analysing a poem (WHAT and HOW)
- WHAT is the poet saying? Consider the poem's content or subject matter. Can you identify a theme? What seems to be the poet's purpose or intention?
- HOW is the poet saying what he/she has to say? What techniques is he/she using? Examine the form of the poem; stanza divisions, rhyme, rhythm. Consider the language and poetic devices used by the poet. What effect do they have? What mood or tone do they establish?