Poetry and Figurative Language
Monday
Stanza, Repetition, & Rhyme Scheme
Stanza
• A stanza is a group of lines which form a
division of a poem
• Stanzas are usually set off from one another
by a space
• Stanzas are two or more lines of poetry that
together form one of the divisions of a poem
• The stanzas of a poem are usually the same
length and follow the same pattern of meter
and rhyme
The Dragon of Grindly Grun
I’m the dragon of Grindly Grun,
I breathe fire as hot as the sun.
When a knight comes to fight
I just toast him on sight,
Like a hot crispy cinnamon bun.
When I see a fair damsel go by,
I just sigh a fiery sigh,
And she’s baked like a ‘tater—
I think of her later
With a romantic tear in my eye.
I’m the Dragon of Grindly Grun,
But my lunches aren’t much fun,
For I like my damsels medium rare,
And they always come our well done.
Repetition
• Repetition occurs when sounds, words,
phrases, sentences, etc. are used more than
once in a piece of writing like poetry
• When a writer wants to be sure the reader
understands what he or she intended to say,
repetition is often used
• …Let’s look at an example:
Rock ‘N’Roll Band
If we were a rock ‘n’ roll band,
We’d travel all over the land.
We’d play and we’d sing and wear spangly things,
If we were a rock ‘n’ roll band.
If we were a rock ‘n’ roll band,
And we were up there on the stand,
The people would hear us and love us and cheer us,
Hurray for that rock ‘n’ roll band.
If we were a rock ‘n’ roll band,
Then we’d have a million fans.
We’d giggle and laugh and sign autographs,
If we were a rock ‘n’ roll band.
Rhyme Scheme
• The rhyme scheme of a poem describes th pattern of
rhyming words
• The last word of the first line receives the letter “a”
• The last word of the second line receives the letter
“a” if it rhymes with the first line
• If the last word of the second line does not rhyme
with the first line, it receives the letter “b”
• The next new rhyme receives a “c”
Backward Bill
Backward Bill, Backward Bill,
A
He lives way up on Backward Hill,
Which is really a hole in the sandy ground
(But that’s a hill turned upside down).
A
B
B
Backward Bill’s got a backward shack
With a big front porch that’s built out back.
You walk through a window and look out the door
And the cellar is up on the very top floor.
C
C
D
D
Backward Bill he rides like the wind
Don’t know where he’s going but sees where he’s been.
His spurs they go “neigh” and his horse it goes “clang”
And his six-gun goes “gnab,” it never goes “bang.”
E
E
F
F
Let’s look at one more…
To Be Said of Ed
There once was a man named Ed
Who had brain cells galore in his head
And though he was older
He became even bolder
About saying what had to be said
A
A
B
B
A
Stanza, Repetition, Rhyme Scheme
• Prior Knowledge:
Can you identify stanza, repetition, and rhyme
scheme in a poem?
In your learning clubs, you will:
1. count and label stanzas
2. find and label examples of repetition
3. identify and label the rhyme scheme
Tuesday
Poetry and Figurative Language
Simile
• A simile is a type of figurative language which
involves comparing two unlike things
• A simile usually used the words “like” or “as.”
***Remember, figurative language is used by
the author to help the reader visualize what is
happening in the poem or story.
Let’s look at some examples of simile…
*His feet were as big as boats.
We are comparing his feet to boats.
*The cricket’s chirp was as soothing as a lullaby.
We are comparing the chirp to a lullaby.
*The burnt toast was black like charcoal.
Toast is being compared to charcoal
Simile example by a student…
BUTTERFLIES by CLAIR
Butterflies are as light as feathers
They are like paper bags floating in the air
And are as beautiful as dancing spirits
I think they are as small as stars in the sky.
Sometimes they are as blue as tear drops
I bet they love flowers swaying in the breeze
Butterflies are so cool!
One more example…
Flint
An emerald is as green as grass,
A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;
A flint lies in the mud.
A diamond is a brilliant stone,
To catch the world's desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;
But a flint holds a fire.
•
Christina Rossetti
1830-1894
Simile
• Prior Knowledge:
– Can you identify the ideas compared using simile?
**You will be given a beginning of a simile and will
work with a partner to complete the simile.
Be ready to share!
Wednesday
• Poetry and Figurative Language
Metaphor
A metaphor is a figurative language tool
used to make a comparison between two
things that wouldn’t normally be connected.
A metaphors are similar to similes, but they
DO NOT use the words like or as.
Try to see the visual picture the author is
creating in the examples…
What is being compared?
• The tornado was a raging bull, crushing
everything in its path.
• The stars were sky jewels twinkling
overhead in the night sky.
• I was grounded for a week and my bedroom
was a prison of despair.
Poems with Metaphors:
A Book Is
A book is an open flower
scented pages, fragrant hours
I AM A SWORD
I am a sword,
Sharper than a tongue
Nobody can defeat me,
Because I am a sword,
I can not be hurt by what
people say
About me,
I will not show my anger
Against
Someone else.
•
By Alex
a crafty fox
surprising in its clever plots
a fairy's wings
with princesses, enchanted kings
a windowsill
where breezy thoughts are never still
an hour glass
whose pages flow as hours pass
a lock and key
that opens doors and sets minds free
an ancient clock
that speaks the times but never talks
an open letter
when read again the friendship's better
an apple core
with seeds inside for growing more
a trusted friend
that keeps its secret to the end
Metaphors
• Prior knowledge:
– What is the difference between a simile and a
metaphor?
Guided Practice:
You will be given examples of metaphors. You and
a partner will write your own comparisons using
metaphors.
Thursday
Poetry and Figurative Language
Personification
• Personification is a form of
figurative language that gives
an inanimate object (an idea,
object, or animal) human
qualities.
Examples
1. The large rock refused to budge.
The word refused describes what a
person might do.
2. The warm breeze wrapped its arms
around me.
A person would wrap their arms
around another person.
Ladybug, Ladybug
Ladybug, Ladybug
Stay right here.
Don’t fly home,
You have nothing to fear.
Your children are sleeping.
Your husband is shopping.
Your father is sweeping.
Your mother is mopping.
Your grandma is strumming.
Your grandpa is clapping.
Your auntie is humming.
Your uncle is napping.
Your brother is riding.
Your sister is cooking.
Your niece is hiding.
Your nephew is looking.
Ladybug, Ladybug
Stay right here.
Don’t fly home,
You have nothing to fear.
~John Himmelman
Personification
• Prior knowledge:
What human characteristics are given to an
object, animal, or idea?
Guided practice:
You and a partner will assign a human
characteristic to a non-human item and write
an example of personification.