Humanities 8

Lesson #1
Introduction to What is Poetry?
 What do you think poetry is?
 Why do people write poetry?
 What is the difference between poetry and other written texts?
Hand out Video Response Sheet and review questions as a class.

Lesson #1
What is Poetry?
Video interview with Michael Rosen

Lesson #1
Let’s review – What is poetry?

Lesson #1
by Michael Rosen

Lesson #1
 Poetry is expressive words and phrases to describe feelings, thoughts, emotions, experiences, places and objects.
 Poetry can be humorous or tragic, philosophical or silly.

Lesson #1

A single line of words in a poem.
Example:
“ The willow is like an etching, ”

A grouping of two or more lines of poetry; stanzas in a poem can have different numbers of lines.
Example:
“ The willow is like an etching,
Fine-lined against the sky.
The gingko is like a crude sketch,
Hardly worthy to be signed.
”

A repetition of sounds at the end of words.
Example: pool rhymes with rule bake rhymes with make

A stated comparison of two things that have some quality in common using the words like or as
Example:
“ The willow is like an etching ”

A stated comparison of two things that have some quality in common
NOT using the words like or as.
Example:
My hands were ice cold after shoveling snow.

Lesson #1
“Simile: Willow and Ginkgo” poem
Willow Ginkgo

Lesson #1
“Simile: Willow and Ginkgo” poem
 Number the lines
 Draw boxes around stanzas
 Circle rhyming words
 Underline metaphors once
 Underline similes twice

Lesson #1
“Willow and Gingko”-Stanza 1
(I Do)
• How many lines does stanza one have?
• What are some examples of rhyming words?
• What is an example of a simile?
• Remember, there are no metaphors in this poem. However, an example that would fit into stanza one is: Its leaves are silk

Lesson #1
“Willow and Gingko”-Stanza 2
(We Do)
 How many lines does stanza two have?
 How many stanzas does the entire poem have?
 What are some examples of rhyming words in stanza two?
 What is an example of a simile in stanza two?
 Remember, there are no metaphors in this poem.
Create a metaphor that you think would fit into stanza two. Think about what you can compare the willow or ginko to WITHOUT using the words “like” or
“as”.

Lesson #1
• Rhyme: words that have the same ending sound (ex: far and car)
• Line: a single line of poetry
• Stanza: a group of lines; a paragraph
• Metaphor: a comparison that does not use the words like or as Examples: ice cold, puke green
• Simile: a comparison that does use the terms like and as
Examples: as tall as a giant, smooth like ice

Lesson #1
Simile and Metaphor
Practice
Please complete the ‘Using
Similes and Metaphors in Our
Own Poetry’ worksheet and keep it in your LA binder for future reference.

Lesson # 2

Lesson #2
The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more words
Example:
W aves w ant to be w heels

Lesson #2
The use of words that sound like the natural noises they name
Examples:
Crack, Snap, Pop

Lesson #2
Giving human characteristics to something non-human
Examples:
 My homework grew legs and walked away
 My dog told me I shouldn’t do my homework.
 The frost paints the pines in the winter time.

Lesson #2
A ridiculous exaggeration that can by funny and makes a point.
Examples are:
“I had to walk 15 miles to school in the snow, uphill”
“You could have knocked me over with a feather”.

Lesson #2
Words and phrases that appeal to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste)
Examples:
Sight - The sunset glowed in the distance
Sound - The thunder boomed loudly
Smell - The smell of apple pie filled the apartment
Touch - The bed was as soft as a cloud
Taste - The dinner tasted like I imagine garbage tastes

Lesson #2
Follow the instructions on the hand-out sheets,
My Alliteration and Onomatopoeia Poems and
Personification Practice
Hand both into me when done!

Lesson #2
Alliterations - the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more words.
Onomatopoeia - the use of words that sound like the natural noises they name.
Personification - giving human characteristics to something non-human
Hyperbole A ridiculous exaggeration that can by funny and makes a point.
Imagery - words and phrases that appeal to the five senses
(sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste)