Poetr
y
IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE BRIGHT AND
BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF POETRY, YOU NEED
TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
Poetry
The first thing we see: info about the
author. It is important to know where the
author comes from if we are to understand
why the wrote the poem the way that they
did.
We look a little closer: the subject. This is
literally what the story is about. It is
straightforward and easy to spot.
The deepest part of the poem: the theme. Each
poem has a meaning. The story behind the story.
This can be anything from politics to love.
Poetry
A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyme
between lines of a poem or song. It is usually
referred to by using letters to indicate which
lines rhyme. Lines with the same letters all
rhyme with each other.
Look at the following example:
Poetry
Bid me to weep, and I will weep
While I have eyes to see;
And having none, and yet I will keep
A heart to weep for thee.
Do you understand?
A
B
A
B
Poetry
Get to know these two different types of rhyme
scheme:
• Enclosed rhyme
ABBA CDDC EFFE GHHG and so on
• Alternate rhyme
ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH and so on.
If asked to identify the rhyme scheme, connect
letters to the last words on each line and work from
there.
Poetry
Good! You’ve gotten the basics on paper. Let’s look at
your first poem and see if you can apply what
you know.