Poetry Unit

1. Poetry Unit Analysis Catalysts Form Poetry

2. Opening Qs • What is poetry? • What are vital attributes to the poetry genre? • How does one go about writing a poem? • Why do we write, read, and discuss poetry?

3. Introduction to Poetry I Dont Write Poetry! Eric Cockrell idont write poetry...i sweat poetry, i drink poetry, i breathe poetry, i make love to poetry, i fight poetry, i eat poetry, i bleed poetry, i crap poetry...too often i betray poetry, sometimes idrop poetry.once i tripped over poetry, got angry and kicked poetry.i rocked poetry on a sleepless night, i buried poetry on the hill...i lived poetry, for i am poetry...no, idont write poetry, but poetry writes me!

4. Write Poems about Poetry Directions: Write 3 poems about poetry. Your poems should convey: • your feelings about poetry, • what you believe poetry is, • and why you write poetry. If you’re struggling for a start… • Start your 1st poem with the line “Poetry is”

5. Poetry Catalyst Practice Directions: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once. Practice Prompt • On the wings of a pale green butterfly SHARE!!!

6. FORM POEM: Haiku • Structure • Line 1: 5 syllables • Line 2: 7 syllables • Line 3: 5 syllables • Content • Traditional Haikus are about nature • Modern Haikus are about a variety of topics • BOTH juxtapose two images or ideas • Activity • Practice with “FlashCard” poetry (write your poems in your notes!) • Write 2 TRADITIONAL Haikus (about nature) • Write 2 MODERN Haikus

7. Imagery • Definition: when the writer “paints a picture” with his/her words. • Practice • Write a line of poetry that “paints a picture” of the following things: • Friendship • Sorrow • Fear

8. Daily Catalyst Directions: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MOREwords to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once. FOCUS: imagery • Holding my small hand

9. FORM POEM: Acrostic • Structure • The poem is built off of a BASE WORD • That BASE WORD should also be the last word of the poem • Content • Your BASE WORD should be an idea or concept. • Example Harsh words cut through my soul As tears run down my face The world around me stops Even now – I hate hate. • Activity • Write 2 Acrostic poems about the topic of your choice

10. Daily Catalyst Directions: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once. FOCUS: imagery • We wait to change our mask

11. Shape/Concrete Poems • Structure • written in the shape of the object it is about • Content • Your IMAGE should be a symbolic object • Example Type # 1 (outline) Type # 2 (filled) xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxx • Activity • write 2 shape/concrete poems • 1 type # 1 (outline only) • 1 type # 2 (typed, filled-in shape)

12. Poetry Analysis: The First Book • Directions: • Read the poem and take notes on meaning, literary devices, and personal reactions. • Create a 1-page, typed (1.5 spacing), thesis-based formal analysis in which you discuss this piece using evidence from the text.

13. Poetry Analysis • Your analysis will be a standard essay • Introduction w/ a thesis • Body paragraphs w/ textual evidence (lines from the poem) • Conclusion • Things to consider in your analysis: • Poetic devices • Personification • Alliteration • Allusion • Theme • Imagery • Simile • Metaphor • Repetition • Symbol • Rhyme scheme

14. Some other things to consider • Personal reaction to the piece • Underlying meaning/Alternate meaning • Tone • Do you like the piece? Why? Incorporating Quotes • Include specific lines from the poem to support your analysis. • Put the line in “ “ and where there is a line break in the poem, use a / to indicate that. • Because this is an analysis about ONE POEM, make sure the poem title and poet name appear in the introduction. No other citation is necessary • Be sure to remember the acronym I.C.E when incorporating quotes. Introduce – Cite – Explain

15. Simile and Metaphor • Definition: • Simile – a comparison of 2 unlike things using “like” or “as.” • Metaphor – a comparison of 2 unlike things (1 thing IS the other) • Both devices are meant to draw a connection between the unknown and the familiar • Practice: • Write a simile and a metaphor for the following things: • A daisy • A pencil • A whisk • A garbage can

16. Daily Catalyst Directions: Build a poem around the following line. You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once. FOCUS: simile and metaphor • I am making a house

17. Diamonte • Structure • Line 1 = one noun • Line 2 = two adjectives • Line 3 = three verbs ending in –ing • Line 4 = four nouns • Line 5 = three different verbs ending in –ing • Line 6 = two adjectives (different than line 2) • Line 7 = one noun (different than line 1) • Content • This poem works best with a concept • Practice • Use the lists provided to create a Diamonte (next slide) • Activity • Write 2 original Diamonte poems

19. Rondeau A (Refrain) a b b a a a b R Structure 15 lines: broken into 3 stanzas 5-4-6 a a b b a R

20. Rondeau: example WE wear the mask that grins and lies,     It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—     This debt we pay to human guile;     With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,     And mouth with myriad subtleties.     Why should the world be over-wise,     In counting all our tears and sighs?     Nay, let them only see us, while             We wear the mask.     We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries     To thee from tortured souls arise.     We sing, but oh the clay is vile     Beneath our feet, and long the mile;     But let the world dream otherwise,             We wear the mask! We Wear the Mask Paul Lawrence Dunbar

21. Activity • Write an original Rondeau • Final copy should be typed

22. Villanelle Structure 19 lines: 5 triplets (3 lines) & 1 quatrain (4 lines) • A1 (REFRAIN) • b • A2 (REFRAIN) • a • b • A1 • a • b • A2 • a • b • A1 • a • b • A2 • a • b • A1 • A2

23. Villanelle: example Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,Because their words had forked no lightning theyDo not go gentle into that good night.Good men, the last wave by, crying how brightTheir frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,Do not go gentle into that good night.Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sightBlind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.Do not go gentle into that good night.Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night Dylan Thomas

24. Activity • Write an original Villanelle • Final copy should be typed

25. Daily Catalysts Directions: Build poems around the following line. You may only add up to 40 MOREwords to the original prompt. The prompt may appear ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free” (word-count wise) once. FOCUS: simile and metaphor • You are not forgiven • Use simile or metaphor • My soul is a river • create an extended metaphor

26. Imitations • Read the “Inspired Poetry” sheet that illustrates 2 poems that are imitations of Rita Dove pieces. • Read the poems on the next sheet and choose 3 to write imitations for. • Label 2 “practice” • Type and label the one that you are most proud of for a MW grade

27. Cento • Structure • A “patchwork” poem that takes lines or phrases from many different poems from the same poet and combines them into a new piece. • Content • The content of these types of poems varies and is driven by the pieces that you select to “sew” back together • Practice • Using the Sonia Sanchez poems provided, create a 5-10 line Cento. • Activity • Write TWO Centos (typed) a minimum of 20 lines each • 1 from the group of Billy Collins poems • 1 from the groups of Adrienne Rich poems

28. Free Form Poetry • Structure • Divided into stanzas • Has a pleasant rhythm & flow • Content • Varies • Activity • Write a free form poem about each of the following topics: • Bullying (the act, the feeling associated with, combating it) • One of the seasons • A person • A part of the life cycle (birth, childhood, young adulthood, adulthood, elder years, death) • A tragic or comedic event • A mundane activity