Poetry
Unit
Analysis
Catalysts
Form Poetry
Opening Qs
 What
is poetry?
 What are vital attributes to the poetry
genre?
 How does one go about writing a poem?
 Why do we write, read, and discuss poetry?
Introduction to Poetry
I Dont Write Poetry!
Eric Cockrell
i dont write poetry...
i sweat poetry, i drink poetry,
i breathe poetry, i make love to poetry,
i fight poetry, i eat poetry,
i bleed poetry, i crap poetry...
too often i betray poetry,
sometimes i drop poetry.
once i tripped over poetry,
got angry and kicked poetry.
i rocked poetry on a sleepless night,
i buried poetry on the hill...
i lived poetry, for i am poetry...
no, i dont write poetry,
but poetry writes me!
Write Poems about Poetry
Directions: Write 3 poems about poetry.
Your poems should convey:


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your feelings about poetry,
what you believe poetry is,
and why you write poetry.
If you’re struggling for a start…

Start your 1st poem with the line “Poetry is”
Poetry Catalyst Practice
Directions: Build a poem around the following line.
You may only add up to 25 MORE words to the
original prompt. The prompt may appear
ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is only “free”
(word-count wise) once.
Practice Prompt
 On the wings of a pale green butterfly
SHARE!!!
FORM POEM: Haiku
 Structure

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Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
 Content
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Traditional Haikus are about nature
Modern Haikus are about a variety of topics
BOTH juxtapose two images or ideas
 Activity
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Practice with “FlashCard” poetry (write your poems in your
notes!)
Write 2 TRADITIONAL Haikus (about nature)
Write 2 MODERN Haikus
Imagery
 Definition:
when the writer “paints a picture” with
his/her words.
 Practice

Write a line of poetry that “paints a picture” of the
following things:
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
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Friendship
Sorrow
Fear
Daily Catalyst
Directions: Build a poem around the following
line. You may only add up to 25
MORE words to the original
prompt. The prompt may appear
ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is
only
“free” (word-count wise)
once.
FOCUS: imagery
 Holding
my small hand
FORM POEM: Acrostic

Structure

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Content
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The poem is built off of a BASE WORD
That BASE WORD should also be the last word of the
poem
Your BASE WORD should be an idea or concept.
Example
Harsh words cut through my soul
As tears run down my face
The world around me stops
Even now – I hate hate.
Activity

Write 2 Acrostic poems about the topic of your choice
Daily Catalyst
Directions: Build a poem around the following
line. You may only add up to 25
MORE words to the original
prompt. The prompt may appear
ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is
only
“free” (word-count wise)
once.
FOCUS: imagery
 We
wait to change our mask
Shape/Concrete Poems

Structure


written in the shape of the object it is about
Content

Your IMAGE should be a symbolic object
Example
Type # 1 (outline)


Activity

Type # 2 (filled)
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxx
write 2 shape/concrete poems


1 type # 1 (outline only)
1 type # 2 (typed, filled-in shape)
Poetry Analysis: The First Book
 Directions:


Read the poem and take notes on
meaning, literary devices, and personal
reactions.
Create a 1-page, typed (1.5 spacing),
thesis-based formal analysis in which you
discuss this piece using evidence from the
text.
Poetry Analysis
 Your
analysis will be a standard essay
 Introduction
w/ a thesis
 Body paragraphs w/ textual evidence (lines
from the poem)
 Conclusion
 Things
to consider in your analysis:
 Poetic

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


devices
Personification
Alliteration
Allusion
Theme
Imagery
o
o
o
o
o
Simile
Metaphor
Repetition
Symbol
Rhyme scheme
Some other things to consider



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Personal reaction to the piece
Underlying meaning/Alternate meaning
Tone
Do you like the piece? Why?
Incorporating Quotes
o Include specific lines from the poem to support your
analysis.
o Put the line in “ “ and where there is a line break in
the poem, use a / to indicate that.
o Because this is an analysis about ONE POEM, make
sure the poem title and poet name appear in the
introduction. No other citation is necessary
o Be sure to remember the acronym I.C.E when
incorporating quotes. Introduce – Cite – Explain
Simile and Metaphor
 Definition:
 Simile
– a comparison of 2 unlike things using “like”
or “as.”
 Metaphor – a comparison of 2 unlike things (1
thing IS the other)
 Both devices are meant to draw a connection
between the unknown and the familiar
 Practice:
 Write
a simile and a metaphor for the following
things:




A daisy
A pencil
A whisk
A garbage can
Daily Catalyst
Directions: Build a poem around the following
line. You may only add up to 25
MORE words to the original
prompt. The prompt may appear
ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is
only
“free” (word-count wise)
once.
FOCUS: simile and metaphor
I
am making a house
Diamonte

Structure
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Content
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= one noun
= two adjectives
= three verbs ending in –ing
= four nouns
= three different verbs ending in –ing
= two adjectives (different than line 2)
= one noun (different than line 1)
This poem works best with a concept
Practice


Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
Line 5
Line 6
Line 7
Use the lists provided to create a Diamonte
(next slide)
Activity

Write 2 original Diamonte poems
Nouns
Love
Hate
Blessing
Ring
Beauty
Pen
Paper
Thought
School
Home
Vacation
Snow
Coffee
Dog
Hat
Moose
Phone
Book
Boredom
Adjectives
Pencil
bike
bird
heart
ghost
bee
farmer
sight
faith
Beautiful
Fat
Bitter
Sweet
Stinky
Soft
Harsh
Sparkly
Bright
Dark
Lavish
Small
Giant
Rigid
Colossal
Cute
cuddly
Powerful
-ing verbs
fabulous
colorful
fluid
smart
sassy
important
bland
terrible
simple
complex
peaceful
loose
alive
jealous
mysterious
rich
vast
clumsy
Growing
Running
Jumping
Crying
Laughing
Seeing
Believing
Writing
Learning
Sleeping
Tasting
Keeping
Talking
Listening
Shining
Glowing
Smiling
Frowning
quivering
yelling
watching
waiting
planning
parting
working
stopping
lying
holding
meeting
sitting
standing
living
helping
skiing
licking
crawling
Rondeau
Structure
15 lines: broken into 3 stanzas 5-4-6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A (Refrain)
a
b
b
a
6.
7.
8.
9.
a
a
b
R
10. a
11. a
12. b
13. b
14. a
15. R
Rondeau: example
We Wear the Mask
Paul Lawrence Dunbar
WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
Activity
 Write
an original Rondeau
 Final copy should be typed
Villanelle
Structure
19 lines: 5 triplets (3 lines) & 1 quatrain (4 lines)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
A1 (REFRAIN)
b
A2 (REFRAIN)
10.
a
b
A1
13.
a
b
A2
11.
12.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
a
b
A1
a
b
A2
a
b
A1
A2
Villanelle: example
Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night
Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Activity
 Write
an original Villanelle
 Final copy should be typed
Daily Catalysts
Directions:
Build poems around the following
line. You may only add up to 40
MORE words to the original
prompt. The prompt may appear
ANYWHERE in the piece, but it is
only “free” (word-count wise)
once.
FOCUS: simile and metaphor

You are not forgiven


Use simile or metaphor
My soul is a river

create an extended metaphor
Imitations
 Read
the “Inspired Poetry” sheet that
illustrates 2 poems that are imitations of
Rita Dove pieces.
 Read the poems on the next sheet and
choose 3 to write imitations for.
 Label
2 “practice”
 Type and label the one that you are most
proud of for a MW grade
Cento

Structure
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Content
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The content of these types of poems varies and
is driven by the pieces that you select to “sew”
back together
Practice


A “patchwork” poem that takes lines or phrases
from many different poems from the same poet
and combines them into a new piece.
Using the Sonia Sanchez poems provided,
create a 5-10 line Cento.
Activity

Write TWO Centos (typed) a minimum of 20 lines
each


1 from the group of Billy Collins poems
1 from the groups of Adrienne Rich poems
Free Form Poetry
 Structure
 Divided
into stanzas
 Has a pleasant rhythm & flow
 Content
 Varies
 Activity
 Write
a free form poem about each of the following
topics:
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Bullying (the act, the feeling associated with, combating it)
One of the seasons
A person
A part of the life cycle (birth, childhood, young adulthood,
adulthood, elder years, death)
A tragic or comedic event
A mundane activity