Poetry
Unit
Name: _______________
2
What is Poetry?
Poetry is language used in a special way. A poet carefully chooses words to help you
understand feelings and ideas. Good poetry will excite your senses: you can hear sounds and see
pictures in your mind when you read. Poetry can inspire your imagination and teach you to think
creatively!
Find 10 words that relate to each of the headings.
See
Hear
Touch
Movement
Colour
Mood
Smell
Taste
Other words
Topics
Why would someone write poetry?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
What is poetry’s purpose in our literary world?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Onomatopoeia: Sound Imitation
3
Onomatopoeia is a poetic device that uses words to imitate the natural sounds that things
make. Buzz, ring, and splash are examples of sound imitations or onomatopoeia.
Read the following poem and listen Underline the onomatopoeia:
for the words that represent
sounds.
1. The motor roared as it raced around the track.
The antique clock went
Ticktock, ticktock
Until the bird sang,
“Cuckoo, six o’clock!”
2. The alarm clanged a warning.
3. The soda fizzed in the glass.
4. The cat hissed at the growling dog.
5. As I looked into his eyes, my heart thumped.
Using onomatopoeia, finish these starters:
1. The old wooden door ____________________________________________
2. The autumn leaves ______________________________________________
Write a sentence using onomatopoeia, and then write another one to complete a poem.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Personification: Giving Human Qualities
Personification is a figure of speech that gives a human trait to something as if it were a person.
Look for personification in this
poem:
Fireflies
As whispering breezes
Sang sweet songs in the meadow,
Tiny fireflies winked
In the soft summer night
Circle what is being personified; underline what human quality is
mentioned:
1. The branches’ fingers reached out to the hiker.
2. The dark cloud cried, spilling its tears onto the lake.
3. The potatoes’ eyes stared out of the bag.
4. The beautiful sunflower stretched in the early light.
5. The telephone lines whispered to the resting birds.
6. The squirrel laughed at the tiny chipmunk.
Using personification, finish these starters:
1. The ducks __________________________________________________
2. A car _____________________________________________________
Write a sentence using personification, and then write two or three more to complete a poem.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Hyperbole: A giant Exaggeration
4
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to give a statement impact or
importance.
Examples:
Class’ Examples:
Hyperbole: I am so hungry I could eat a horse
Hyperbole: ________________________________
English: I am starved.
English: ___________________________________
Hyperbole: This old rag – it’s from the dinosaur age.
English: This an old shirt
Hyperbole: ________________________________
English: ___________________________________
Hyperbole: The banana split has whipped cream a mile high. Hyperbole: ________________________________
English: The banana split has lots of whipped cream.
English: ___________________________________
Create a hyperbole for these statements:
1. The path was very long. __________________________________________________
2. It is very cold. _____________________________________________________
Write 2 hypberboles, include the original none exaggeration.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Idiom: A giant Exaggeration
An idiom is a figure of speech using words or phrases. The literal meanings of the words have
no impact on the meaning of them together as a phrase.
Idioms
Meaning
Literal Meanings
Hat Trick:
Hit The Hay:
Knee Jerk Reaction:
Last but not least:
Break a Leg:
Decide what you think these idioms mean.
Rome Was Not Built In One Day:
No Room to Swing a Cat:
Method To My Madness:
Let The Cat Out Of The Bag:
Find 4 idioms you have heard somewhere.
1. _______________________
3. __________________________
2. _______________________
4. __________________________
Haiku: An Experience with Nature
Haiku (hi koo) consists of three unrhymed lines.
The class’ haiku:
________________________________________________________________
5 syllables (where)
________________________________________________________________
7 syllables (what)
________________________________________________________________
5 syllables (when)
Choose your favourite subject about nature. Follow the correct pattern of syllables and write two
different haiku.
Haiku #1
________________________________________________________________
5 syllables (where)
________________________________________________________________
7 syllables (what)
________________________________________________________________
5 syllables (when)
Haiku #2 - make this one where the reader has to guess what the Haiku is about
________________________________________________________________
5 syllables (where)
________________________________________________________________
7 syllables (what)
________________________________________________________________
5 syllables (when)
WHO AM I?
5
I Am Poem
6
An “I Am” Poem is a specific structured poem only about yourself. Follow the example and be creative!
Sample: I Am
I am sharp and focused
I wonder what the camera really sees
I hear the buzzing bee
I see flowers in early morning light
I want to stop time in a box
I am sharp and focused
I pretend to be a statue
I feel the shakes inside
I touch the shutter button
I worry about the blurry result
I cry that the moment has forever passed
I am sharp and focused
I understand moments in time
I say let's freeze them forever
I dream of watercolor effects coming to life
I try to see all the soft muted edges
I hope it happens someday
I am sharp and focused
*verses should be all vertically (example was done
this way to save space)*
Your “I Am” Poem
I am ________________ and ________________ (two special characteristics)
I wonder ____________________________________ (something you are actually curious about)
I hear ____________________________________ (an imaginary sound)
I see ____________________________________ (an imaginary sight)
I want ____________________________________ (an actual desire)
I am ____________________________________ (the first line of the poem restated)
I pretend ____________________________________ (something you 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)
I understand ____________________________________ (something you know is true)
I say ____________________________________ (something you believe in)
I dream ____________________________________ (something you actually dream about)
I try ____________________________________ (something you make an effort to do)
I hope ____________________________________ (something you actually hope for)
I am ____________________________________ (the first line of the poem repeated)
Free Verse: Unrhymed Poetry
Free verse is a poem without a set pattern. The lines are divided according to the natural
patterns of speech instead of following a specific pattern.
As a class, write a free verse about what you like to do on Saturday mornings.
Write two free verse poems on any subject you wish.
Free Verse #1
Free Verse #2
7
Clerihew:
A clerihew is a humourous poem about a specific person. It is a four line rhyming poem, in the
pattern aa, bb. The first line is the person’s name.
Example:
Class Clerihew:
The enemy of Harry Potter
Was a scheming plotter.
I can't tell you what he's called; I'd be ashamed
To name "he who must not be named."
Write 3 Clerihews on your own, using colourful language, and mind the rhyming pattern.
Clerihew #1 – about yourself
A
____________________________________________________________
A
____________________________________________________________
B
____________________________________________________________
B
____________________________________________________________
Clerihew #2 – about a teacher at our school
A
____________________________________________________________
A
____________________________________________________________
B
____________________________________________________________
B
____________________________________________________________
Clerihew #3 – about a famous person
A
____________________________________________________________
A
____________________________________________________________
B
____________________________________________________________
B
____________________________________________________________
8
Quatrain: A Foursome!
9
A quatrain is style of poetry with only 4 rhyming lines. There are various rhyming patterns that can be
used; aa bb, aa aa, ab ab, or abcb.
Examples:
Class’s Quatrains
A I went off to the candy shop
B To buy a stick of candy
C One for you and one for me
B And one for sister Mandy.
A _________________________________________________
A _________________________________________________
A _________________________________________________
A _________________________________________________
A Evening red and morning grey
A Are the signs of a sunny day
B Evening grey and morning red
B Bring rain on the farmer’s head
A _________________________________________________
B _________________________________________________
A _________________________________________________
B _________________________________________________
Write 3 of your own Quatrains.
Quatrain #1 – about nature
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Quatrain #2 – funny
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Quatrain #3 – serious
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
10
Cento: A Patchwork of Lines
A cento is a “patchwork” poem, where each line is taken from another poem. The theme or subject of
the poem needs to be easily identified. This is a 5-7 line poem
Example:
When I ws but thirteen or so
The clouds fortold the future of my way
Was it a vision – or a waking dream?
In marble walls as white as milk
I know that I shall meet my fate
(Walter J. Turner)
(unknown)
(John Keats)
(Mother Goose)
(W.B. Yeats)
Group Cento – in your group, use the books provided, create a cento
Poet
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Own Cento – create your own cento using well known poets
Poet
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Definition Poetry: What is My?
11
A definition poem explores one particular concept or subject, in free verse form. The writer “defines”
using a list of descriptive qualities phrased poetically.
Example:
What is my flag?
A symbol of my country
An inspiration
A powerfully silent song
Freedom for all people
Justice and the rule of law
A gift to all races and religions
Goodness and humanity
A source of pride
My blessed home
Safe haven
That is my flag!
Class Poem:
What is my school?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
That is my school!!
Create 2 Definition Poems for yourself.
Definition Poem #1: about a person
Definition Poem #2: an event, symbol, moment
What is ________________
What is ______________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
That is _________________!
That is _________________!
12
Poetic Cryptograms
A poetic cryptogram is poem written in code. The words and letters are in the proper order, however,
spaces, different fonts and sizes trick the eye. Proverbs are the best ones to use for a cryptogram.
Example:
Class Example:
AP
ri
lsh
OW
ER
sb
Rin
Gma
ow
E
yfl
rs
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Create 2 of your own poetic cryptograms using one of the proverbs from class.
Cryptogram #1
Cryptogram #2