English
Department
Poetry
What is poetry?
Poetry: a form of literature that provokes
emotion in the reader and that is often
beautiful and entertaining.
Poetry
English
Department
The Poet Tree:
Punctuation
Much like a
tree, poetry is
made up of
many elements
or ‘branches’.
Imagery
Emotion
There are
seven branches
to the poetry.
Rhythm and Rhyme are two of the
branches – in pairs can you come
up with the other five?
Rhythm
Meaning
Structure
Rhyme
Rhyme
English
Department
Rhyme:
Two or more lines that end with a similar sound.
Tom is a boy who likes to play.
When told to come in he likes to runaway.
He’ll try and stay out until it gets dark.
Playing with his mates, down in the park.
(A)
(A)
(B)
(B)
Rhyme Scheme:
When looking at poems in English we sometimes
label how the poem rhymes (like this).
We call this the Rhyme Scheme.
Rhyme
English
Department
What is the rhyme scheme of the following poem?
Louisa Puddle liked to dance and sing.
She was even invited to perform in front of the king.
She sang her song as loud as she dared.
Nervous as she was, you could even say she was scared.
(A)
(A)
(B)
(B)
Her voice was almost inaudible, it was barely a squeak.
So quiet it was, it was just so mild and so meek.
So embarrassed was Lou, she didn’t speak for a week.
(C)
(C)
(C)
Think Point:
Why do you think rhyme is important in poetry?
Rhyme
English
Department
Creative Task:
Using the rhyme scheme (A,A,B,B,C,C,D,D,D)
create your own poem about yourself and your
interests.
It doesn’t have to be real or truthful.
If you can include a range of devices as well –
SPAMROD!
SPAMROD
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
S = Simile
P = Personification
A = Alliteration
M = Metaphor
R = Rule of three/Repetition/Rhetorical question
O = Onomatopoeia/oxymoron
D = Dynamic vocabulary
What is the purpose, theme or
message of the poem?
What is the
poem about?
Identify the poet’s
techniques...
Basic things to
notice in a poem
Explore the
emotions,
mood or
feelings in the
poem.
What effect
does the
poem have
on you?
How does the poet
communicate these ideas
using language, structure and
form.
Language, Structure and Form
Language – words used
Structure – the order of events, how it
begins, develops, ends, how it looks
Form – The type of poem and its
features
Skills you need to use:
Inference: (you should be able to
draw on your experiences and see the
various connotations/
meanings/possibilities)
Understanding imagery:
Poets often make up their own images
using figurative devices to convey
feelings.
These feelings can be precise, individual
or generic to a specific gender, nationality
etc...
You have to remember that these devices
are used deliberately..
Figurative Devices
• It’s important to know the
devices used by poets, but it’s
also critical you can
comprehend why they’ve been
used.
Reading and responding to Poetry
• Responding to poetry
is about using your
own imagination, to
appreciate what is
written
• It should have an
effect on you
• You may find things
that move you or
make you smile
• It can be a very
personal thing
• HOW DO I START THEN?
• What things am I meant
to notice or look for?
Topic you could write poetry on:
• Your life and
experiences
• Growing up
• Change
• Hope or opportunity
• Loss/sadness
• Nature/environment
• Friendship
• love
• Look to your favourite
lesson for inspiration
• Animals
• People
• Literature – your
favourite book or
character.
• Anything else you find
interesting – if you like
it your writing will
inspire others!