Elements of Poetry
By Mr. Antal
CFMS
Poetry?
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Poetry was a means of communication long
before people used written language. Even in
later civilizations, where few people could
read or write, poems were used to
communicate history and newsworthy events
as well as to entertain and inspire. To this day,
most poems are best enjoyed when read aloud
because of their musical sound, rhythm, and
language.
Poetry Unit Goals
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Appreciate sound and imagery language
Understand and view yourself and your world
in new ways
Discover new words, sounds, and rhythm in
unique, creative ways
Capture the essence if meaning in the sparest
of language
Don’t believe the hype!
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Not all poetry rhymes…it is just one of the
poetic elements
Poetry Terms
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Lines
Stanzas
Rhyme
Rhythm
Alliteration
Simile
Metaphor
Mood
Onomatopoeia
Couplets
Personification
Types of Poems
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Haiku
Limerick
Cinquain
Diamonte
Bio Poem
Concrete Poem
I Am Poem
Alliteration
Personification
Simile
Metaphor
Poetry Terms
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Lines- Poets write in lines instead of sentences
Rhyme- Words that end lines of poetry with the same
sound
Stanzas- Groups of lines of poetry
Rhythm- The beat or pattern of a poem, fast of slow
Simile- A comparison using “like” or “as”
Metaphor- A comparison that doesn’t use “like” or
“as”
Couplets- Stanzas of two lines that usually rhyme
Poetry Terms Continued
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Alliteration- The repetition of a consonant sound
Onomatopoeia- Words or a grouping of words that
imitates the sound it is describing, suggesting its
source object, such as "click” or "buzz”
Mood- Is the sounds and word pictures a poem
creates
Personification- When something that does not
human like qualities is given human like qualities
Types of Poetry
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BIO POEM- An eleven line poem about
yourself.
Line 1- Your First Name
Line 2- 4 Traits that describe you
Line 3- Sibling of…(Three people or ideas)
Line 4- Lover of…(Three items)
Line 5- Who feels (Three items)
Line 6- Who needs (Three items)
Line 7- Who gives (Three items)
Line 8- Who fears…(Three items)
Line 9- Who would like to see…(Three items)
Line 10- Resident of (Your city, street, or State)
Line 11- Your last name
Types of Poetry
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I AM POEM- A 3 distinctive stanza poem
about yourself that follows a specific pattern.
FIRST STANZA
THIRD STANZA
I am (two special characters you have)
I wonder (something you are actually curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual date)
I am (the first line of a poem repeated)
I understand (something you know is true)
I say (something you believe in)
I dream (something you actually dream about)
I try (something you really make an effort about
I hope (something you actually hope for)
I am (the first line of a poem repeated)
SECOND STANZA
I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (an imaginary touch)
I worry (something that really bothers you)
I cry (something that makes you very sad)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)
Types of Poetry
HAIKU- Haiku poetry is a very short, centuries
old form of Japanese poetry, that usually deals
with nature, that has a specific pattern. The
pattern is:
5 Syllables
7 Syllables
5 Syllables
Snow is falling down
Our snow days are all used up
That means I’ll see you
-Antal 2008
Types of Poetry
LIMERICK- A Limerick is a funny little poem
containing five lines. The last words of the
1st(A), 2nd(A), and 5th(A) lines rhyme with
each other, and the last words of the 3rd(B),
and 4th(B) lines rhyme with each other.
A clumsy young fellow named Jim(A)
Was never informed how to swim.(A)
He fell off a dock(B)
And sunk like a rock(B)
And that was the end of him.(A)
Types of Poetry
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DIAMONTE- A Diamonte Poem is shaped like a
diamond. It too has a set pattern. Opposites are also
used.
Noun
Adjective, Adjective
Verb, Verb, Verb
Noun, Noun, Noun, Noun
Verb, Verb, Verb
Adjective, Adjective
Noun
Cocoa Tree
Tropical, Gnarly
Growing, Producing, Flowering
Pods, Beans, Buds, Apples
Dropping, Crunching, Baking
Delicious, All-American
Apple Tree
Types of Poetry
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CINQUAIN- Another type of poem with a
specific pattern. Each line has a certain number
of syllables. The pattern is 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2
syllables per lines
My dog
Is fat and slow.
She eats all day and night.
She sleeps all day and is lazy.
Worthless
Types of Poetry
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CONCRETE POEM- Also called picture
poetry, is formed to look like what you are
writing about.
Types of Poetry
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ALLITERATION- The repetition of a
consonant sound
Windshield wipers wipe the windshield
Wipe the water off the pane
This way
That way
This way
That way
This way
That way
In the rain
Mary Ann Hoberman
Types of Poetry
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PERSONIFICATION- Poetry that assigns human
characteristics to non-human things.
DINNER
Knife was the first to speak.
He was known mostly for his sharp cutting remarks.
Chairs sat down underneath the table.
Napkins folded themselves into their laps.
Teapot, unable to stand the tension, began to boil.
Cup held one hand on her hip
Knowing she could hold her own
Fork and spoon huddled off to the side next to the plate.
They knew plate could handle whatever was dished out.
Terry Garrison
Types of Poetry
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SIMILE AND METAPHOR- A poem that contains
the use of simile and metaphor.