Reading
Poetry
Unit 5: The Language of
Poetry
Structure
what a poem looks like
Line
single word, sentence,
part of sentence
Stanza
group of lines
Speaker
narrator
1. Who is the speaker of the poem? Describe
the conflict she is having.
The speaker of the poem is a young girl who won an art contest.
The girl feels guilty because instead of drawing something from
scratch, she traced an image and pretended it was her own.
Conflict: she wants to admit what she has done but does not
want to disappoint her mother.
2. Where does Wong use rhyme in the first
stanza?
Lines 1 and 8: Proud and loud
Lines 3 and 4: done and won
3. The poem is structured so that each stanza
helps you understand the speaker’s feelings. In
your own words, summarize what each stanza
is about.
1st Stanza: Speaker’s mother was proud her daughter’s art
work.
2nd Stanza: She traced the artwork , tells that is how she won
the contest, and feels guilty.
3rd Stanza: She doesn’t want her mom to be disappointed.
4. Reread the boxed section. It is the only
place where there are complete sentences.
Why might the poet have chosen to
emphasize these lines?
The poet wants to show the main idea/conflict of
the poem.
5. Reread the last stanza. Why doesn’t the
speaker want to admit what she’s done?
The speaker knows that it is difficult to please her
mom because she uses the “finally” her mom is
proud. Mom was never proud of her, it's the first
time. Daughter doesn’t want to admit she has
cheated.
Elements of
Poetry
Part 2: Sound Devices
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Rhyme
Rhythm
Refrain
Meter
Alliteration
Figurative Language
○ simile
○ Metaphor
○ personification
○ hyperbole
○ Imagery
Rhyme
repetition of accented vowel
sound
“Thing” and “Sing”
“Cry” and “Sky”
Meter
&
Rhythm
Meter: regular pattern of
stressed and unstressed syllables.
Rhythm: musical quality
created by the accented and
unaccented syllables.
Alliteration
repeating consonant sounds
makes, still pools,
sleep-song
Refrain
Repetition of words
The rain makes still pools
on the sidewalk
The rain makes running
pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep
song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.
Figurative Language
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Simile: comparing 2 unlike
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things using words “like” or “as.”
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an object, idea, or animal with a
human quality
Metaphor: comparing 2
unlike things WITHOUT using words
“like” or “as.”
Personification: describing
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Hyperbole: figure of speech
using an exaggeration
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Imagery: sensory details that
appeal to the 5 senses creating a
mental picture.