1 Why Poetry Still Matters – Vocabulary and Lead-in Discussion (Poetry and Lyrics + Revision from July 2020 – October 2021) Various literary devices are used in writing and in speech. Match the terms to their examples, and give definitions for the others: She’s an absolute angel! A pessimist's blood type is always B-negative. That car goes like a dream. The sun smiled down from the sky. I gave him a piece of my mind. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I heard a huge crack as the ice broke. 1 What kind of poetry is popular in your country? Why? Has this always been the case? 2 Do you think a person needs special skills to be able to appreciate poetry? Can these be taught? If yes, how? 3 What can you compare poetry to? 4 What makes a poem different from a piece of prose? 2 Genre and Wordsmithery: Adjectives Revised Have you read any of these types of poems: nursery rhyme, limerick, sonnet, haiku, slam, epic poetry, visual poem, dada poem, prose poem? Do you remember how you first learned about them? Match prefixes in list A to adjectives in list B. A: dis im il in ir mis un B: replacable separable adequate plausible coherent enthusiastic agreeable logical reverent moral modest literate biased understood relevant Now match the extracts to some of the genres discussed above, and say what you think of each style of poetry using the vocabulary items. “There was an Old Man with a beard Who said, “It is just as I feared!” Two Owls and a Hen Four Larks and a Wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!” “The Old Pond” by Matsuo BashÅ An old silent pond A frog jumps into the pond— Splash! Silence again. I am a descendant of a family of multilingual folk who are synonymous to non-English speaking. Who sent me to English school so I could be better than them, Because speaking English in India is status English in India is, ‘Look, I have a verbal Mercedes!’ Tell me, O Muse, of the man of many devices, who wandered full many ways after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he learned, aye, and many the woes he suffered in his heart upon the sea, seeking to win his own life and the return of his comrades. Fümms bö wö tee zee Uu pögiff, kwii Ee. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. 3 Concession Revised Make expressions for concession phrases using the hints below. Admit + ly Word / of / caution Having / said Grant / you That / say I / concede / must Be / fair On the / flip Read some opinions about poetry and say how far you agree with them. Concede to other opinions and say where the disagreement lies. • If public speakers want to captivate their audience with the message of their speech, they should use poetry to support or illustrate it. • The idea of poetry is inseparable from the idea of rhyme; without rhyme, there’s no poetry. • As long as languages evolve over time, it gets harder to fully appreciate poems written in the past. • Given how many people write and publish their poetry on social media, the line between professional and amateur poetry has blurred. • Poets use language as a way of amplifying certain feelings, but at times it might appear too exaggerated. • Poetry can only be found in poems. • The poet’s craft is about emphasis of language's musical qualities and the usage of condensed language. • AI could not possibly produce poetry. 4 I Guess It Goes… (Adverbs and Adjectives Reloaded) A Do you know where the words in the picture above come from? What features distinguish it from poetry? B Which of the following adjectives have adverb forms? Do you remember their meanings? highbrow, peculiar, subliminal, tasteless, commonplace, unique, heart-wrenching 1 Read the opening lyrics. What do you think the song is about? How would you describe them using the adjectives and adverbs revised? “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy (…) He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready.” "Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy? / Caught in a landslide / No escape from reality / Open your eyes / Look up to the skies and see..." “Turn around…” “"At first I was afraid, I was petrified / Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side..." 2 Discuss what style of music you think goes with each song. Explain your choices. 3 Choose one song, and think about a possible next verse for the song. Were you right? 4 What are your two favourite lyrics and why? How are they similar or different? What poetic elements do they have? Do you know anything about why they were written? 5 Immortal Words Extra 1 Look at the phrases in the text. Discuss their meaning. On quoting Shakespeare If you cannot understand my argument, and declare 'It's Greek to me', you are quoting Shakespeare; if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch, if you have been tongue-tied or a tower of strength, if you have insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, or had too much of a good thing - why, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, then - if the truth were known, you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am a laughing stock, then - Tut tut! For goodness' sake! - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare.
