Poetry Unit Notes – Lit/Comp 09
Poetry One of the three major genres o
(others are prose-fiction, nonficti
Poems use concise, musical, and
charged language.
Poems are divided into lines and
often employ regular rhythmical
Poetry should be read at least tw
enjoyment and a second time to
evaluate.
Analyze using F I S T
FORM Analyze FORM to determine pos
and to recognize type of poem
Arrangement of the words on th
Stanza A formal division of lines in a poe
considered as a unit. Stanzas are
spaces
Set-form poems have distinct sta
is instantly recognizable to the re
usually symmetrical
Stanzas are usually named by th
lines
Couplet – a two-line stanza
Quatrain – a four-line stanza
Sestet – a six-line stanza
Octave – an eight-line stanza
Meter The rhythmical pattern of a poem
Rhythm - Is the pattern of beats
spoken or written language. Som
have a very specific pattern
To determine meter, you must sc
Scanning means marking the str
unstressed syllables. A strong st
syllable is marked with a ( ' ). An
syllable is marked with a ( ˘ ). Th
and unstressed syllables are then
vertical lines into groups called f
types of feet most common in En
are:
Iamb – a foot with one unstresse
followed by a stressed syllable, a
“again”
Trochee – a foot with a stressed
followed by an unstressed syllab
“wonder”
Anapest – a foot with two unstre
followed by one strong stress, as
“on the beach”
Dactyl – a foot with one strong s
by two unstressed, as in the wor
Spondee – a foot with two stron
such as the word “spacewalk”
Depending on the type of foot t
common in them, lines of poetr
described as iambic, trochaic, a
Lines Lines of poetry are also describe
the number of feet that occur in
Some examples include:
Monometer – verse written in o
Dimeter – verse written in two-f
Pentameter – verse written in fiv
(this is the most common type o
Pentameter)
Set- Poems that have a set style for li
form stanza, subject matter, etc
Poems 1. Lyric Poetry – Poetry that do
story but is aimed at expressing
emotions or thoughts. Most lyri
short and imply a single strong e
These poems rely heavily on the
they create with words.
2. English Sonnet – 14-line lyric
in rhymed iambic pentameter. It
three quatrains and a couplet. T
stanzas present different aspects
that the couplet answers. Subje
Romantic Love. Rhyming Patter
efef gg. William Shakespeare wa
is called the “Shakespearean Son
3. Italian Sonnet – 14-line lyric p
in iambic pentameter. It consists
and a sestet. The octave states a
asks a question. The sestet com
answers the question. The rhym
abbaabba cdecde. It is also som
referred to as a Petrarchan Sonn
4. Ode – A lyric poem that is lon
in nature written to a set structu
5. Narrative Poetry – Poetry tha
using simple language and repeti
6. Ballad – Song that tells a stor
usually tell sensational stories of
adventure. They are characteriz
rhythm and rhyme patterns so th
to memorize.
7. Elegy – a sad, thoughtful poe
the death of a person.
8. Epitaph – an inscription on a
mortuary monument written in p
deceased person.
9. Haiku – 3-line verse from orig
Japan. The first and third lines h
syllables and the second line has
syllables. The subject matter of
always some aspect of nature. C
must be on word choice.
10. Limerick – a short humorous p
consisting of five lines. Lines 1, 2,
seven to ten syllables and rhyme w
other. Lines 3 and 4 have five to s
and also rhyme with each other. T
scheme is aabba.
Free Verse Free verse is poetry not written i
rhythmical pattern or meter.
Free verse seeks to capture the r
natural speech.
It is the dominant form of contem
poetry
IMAGERY & Analyze the Poet’s use of IMAG
FIGURATIVE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE
Imagery The use of language that appea
one or more of the five senses
Sight, Smell, Taste or Touch).
Metaphor A comparison between two ob
the intent of giving clearer mea
one of them.
Extended Metaphor – A subjec
or written of as though it were
else. It differs from a regular m
that several comparisons are m
Extended metaphors sustain th
comparison for several lines or
entire poem.
A type of figurative language in
Personification nonhuman subject is given hum
characteristics.
Simile A figure of speech in which like
used to make a comparison be
basically unlike ideas or items
SOUND Using words to create a musica
DEVICES to verse. Sound devices can cr
and set tempo. The use of sou
makes a poem easier to memo
remember.
Rhyme The repetition of sounds at the
words.
End Rhyme – occurs when the
words come at the ends of line
Internal Rhyme – occurs when
rhyming words appear in the s
Slant Rhyme – is when the wo
rhyme exactly.
Rhyme Scheme – is a regular p
rhyming words in a poem. The
scheme of a poem is indicated
different letters of the alphabe
new rhyme.
Alliteration The repetition of initial conson
Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds
Consonance The repetition of consonant so
within and at the ends of word
The process or creating or usin
Onomatopoeia that imitate sounds
THEME The central idea or ideas that t
shares with the reader. It is us
universal idea about life or abo
and their actions.
Most themes must be inferred
reader
Different readers due to their l
experiences can determine diff
themes for the same reading
EXTRA Poetry also employs other liter
LITERARY elements you have already bee
ELEMENTS TO to include: Characterization, Ir
LOOK FOR Setting, Mood, Author’s Purpo
Author’s Tone, Irony, Style, etc
