The Elements of Poetry

The Elements of Poetry Source: bcs.bedfordstmartins.com

ALLEGORY • An allegory is a whole world of symbols. • Within a narrative form, which can be either in prose or verse, an allegory tells a story that can be read symbolically. • For example, maybe you’ve heard that The Wizard of Oz was originally an allegory.

Interpreting an allegory is complicated because you need to be aware of what each symbol in the narrative refers to. • Allegories thus reinforce symbolic meaning, but can also be appreciated as good stories regardless of their allegorical meaning.

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who wanted to explore the world, so, one day she packed up her things and set out on a journey. She walked through the woods that surrounded her hut until she reached a road. Standing on the other side of the road was another traveler, a little boy. When asked, he suggested that she go north, for that was where the big towns and more interesting sights were.

So she walked along the road northward until she reached a large town. She spent several days exploring the town and meeting all kinds of strange people. Finally, she grew bored and found a new road along which to travel. Standing at the edge of town was a young woman. When asked, she suggested that the little girl go east, for that was where the small cities and most interesting sights were.

So the little girl walked eastward along the road until she came to a small city. She wandered through the city for a few weeks and saw all manner of new inventions. Finally, she had seen everything, so she left and found a new road along which to travel. Waiting at an intersection was a man, who, when asked, suggested that the little girl go south, for that was where the big cities were.

So the little girl walked along the road going south for quite some time, until she came to a large city. There she talked with people from different countries who spoke different languages and had entirely different cultures. She learned a lot during her stay, but finally she had had enough of the city, so she found another road along which to travel.

Resting in a nearby park was an old woman, who, when asked if she could recommend any particular direction for the little girl to travel, exclaimed, “Oh, there is a lovely forest west of here. I love to wander through the trees and enjoy the peace and quiet.” So the little girl went west and after a while, found the very forest in which she lived. She skipped through the trees to her hut, glad to be home.

Once upon a time, there was a courageous man named Barack Obama who wanted to change the world, so one day he packed up his things and set out on a journey. He traveled through the area that surrounded his home until he reached a crossroad. Standing on the other side of the intersection was another traveler, a little boy. When asked, he suggested that Obama go north, for that was where the big towns and more interesting sights were.

So Obama walked along the road northward until he reached a large town. He spent several days exploring the town and meeting all kinds of strange people. Finally, he felt he had learned all about the needs of the large town and found a new road along which to travel. Standing at the edge of town was a young woman. When asked, she suggested that Obama go east, for that was where the small cities and most interesting sights were.

So Obama walked eastward along the road until he came to a small city. He wandered through the city for a few weeks and saw all kinds of culture but also many forms of human suffering. Finally, he had experienced all that the small city had to offer, so he left and found a new road along which to travel. Waiting at an intersection was a man, who, when asked, suggested that Obama go south, for that was where the big cities were.

So Obama walked along the road going south for quite some time until he came to a large city. There he talked with people from different countries who spoke different languages and had entirely different cultures. He learned a lot during his stay, but finally he decided it was time to leave the city, so he found another road along which to travel.

Resting in a nearby park was an old woman, who, when asked if she could recommend any particular direction for Obama to travel, exclaimed, “Oh, there is a lovely forest west of here. I love to wander through the trees and enjoy the peace and quiet.”

So Obama went west and after a while found the very town in which he lived. He moved through the familiar streets of his hometown, glad to be home. However, Obama now knew that his travels had prepared him to bring positive changes to the world so once again he packed up his things and set out on a new, more adventurous journey.

REVIEW: Allegory • An allegory tells a story that can be read symbolically • For example, what might be the meaning behind the story of Dorothy in the Land of Oz?

Assignment • For tomorrow, allegorize the story of the little girl who wanted to explore the world. • You could, for example, make the story symbolic of gaining experience (naming the little girl “Innocence,” perhaps). • Or you could substitute animals for the human characters (the little girl could, for example, be represented by a baby chick, or a fawn, and the old woman by an owl). • Does allegorizing the story add a layer of meaning? • Does your version seem to have a moral?

ALLITERATION • Alliteration occurs when the initial sounds of a word, beginning either with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in close succession. • Examples: Athena and Apollo Nate never knows People who pen poetry • Note that the words only have to be close to one another: Alliteration that repeats and attempts to connect a number of words is little more than a tongue-twister.

The function of alliteration, like rhyme, might be to accentuate the beauty of language in a given context, or to unite words or concepts through a kind of repetition. • Alliteration, like rhyme, can follow specific patterns. • Sometimes the consonants aren't always the initial ones, but they are generally the stressed syllables. • Alliteration is less common than rhyme, but because it is less common, it can call our attention to a word or line in a poem that might not have the same emphasis otherwise.

My Papa’s Waltzby Theodore Roethke The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself.

The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.

My Papa’s Waltzby Theodore Roethke • There is a single, clear alliterative moment in each of the first three stanzas of the poem. The fact that there is no alliteration in the final stanza encourages the overall impression that there is something not completely right within the poem. • - line 4 - “Such waltzing was not easy"The gentle sound of the repeated “w” contrasts with the striking simile about death in line 3 and with the characterization of the waltz as “not easy.” The alliteration makes the waltz sound natural and tranquil, but there are clear indications to the contrary. The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.

My Papa’s Waltzby Theodore Roethke • - lines 7/8 – My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself The sharp sound of the repeated “c” gives a hard edge to an otherwise graceful-sounding stanza. The fact that this example of alliteration is contained within a brief description of the speaker’s mother is a warning, or signal of danger, like the same hard “c” in the parental command “careful!” The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.

My Papa’s Waltzby Theodore Roethke • - line 9 – “The hand that held my wrist” As in the first stanza, the gentle, nearly protective sound of this alliteration, “hand . . . held,” is in sharp contrast with the battered knuckle and scraped ear that dominate the imagery of this stanza. The aggressive actions of the speaker’s father are at least partially offset by this gentleness. The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.

My Father’s Waltzby Theodore Roethke • - lines 9/10 – The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle. This is not an example of alliteration; alliteration is about sounds, not just the first letters of consecutive words. The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.

1). How does this examination of alliteration change your understanding of how the poem works as a whole? • 2). How else does Roethke manipulate sound in the poem?

ALLITERATION EXERCISE • “Pretty woman” sounds different from “lovely lady,” although both mean essentially the same thing (“attractive adult female”). • A writer might choose “lovely lady” for its triple alliteration and its rhyme; another writer might reject that phrase for the same reason (probably calling it “too flowery”).

DIRECTIONS: In the following lines, come up with synonymous phrases for the alliterated phrase. Then describe how the alliterated phrase differs from your less ornamental version. What is gained in each? What is sacrificed? • Sometimes snakes slithered past. • Occasionally snakes moved past.

A majestic mountain was visible in the distance. • He hopped about happily.

The baker busily kneaded the bread. • They stayed up while the moon mounted in the sky.

ASSONANCE • If alliteration occurs at the beginning of a word and rhyme at the end, assonance takes the middle territory. • Assonance occurs when the vowel sound within a word matches the same sound in a nearby word, but the surrounding consonant sounds are different. • "Tune" and "June" are rhymes; "tune" and "food" are assonant.

The function of assonance is frequently the same as end rhyme or alliteration: All serve to give a sense of continuity or fluidity to the verse. • Assonance might be especially effective when rhyme is absent: It gives the poet more flexibility, and it is not typically used as part of a predetermined pattern. • Like alliteration, it does not so much determine the structure or form of a poem; rather, it is more ornamental.

ASSONANCE EXERCISEInstructions: Create assonance by selecting the appropriate word from the choices given. Remember, assonance occurs when the vowel sound within a word matches the same sound in another word, but the surrounding consonant sounds are different. DAZED • Dice • Cramped • Graze • fizzle

DAZED • Dice • Cramped • Graze • fizzle

FRUIT • guitar • loop • function • frump

PURPLE • dazzle • pretty • pale • hurt

REEK • rickety • quick • Beat • screw

READY • set • water • seat • raise

REVIEW: Alliteration • Alliteration occurs when the initial sounds of a word, beginning either with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in close succession. • Lacey lilting ladies losing love lamenting…

REVIEW: Assonance • Assonance occurs when the vowel sound within a word matches the same sound in a nearby word, but the surrounding consonant sounds are different. • The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.

The Elements of Poetry