Poetry Unit 4

Poetic Structure

Structure of Poetry

• Structure of a poem is the way words lines, and groups of lines are arranged.
• ­Most poetry is arranged in lines or groupings of words.

Stanzas are logical sections of ideas

• ­A two­ line stanza is a couplet.
• ­Three lines is a tercet
• ­Four lines is a quatrain.

­Rhyme Scheme is pattern of rhymes at the end of lines

• abab
• The path of least resistance, a is short, but it’s boring. b Choose the tougher distance a for soaring. b

­Poetic Forms

­Formal verse

• follows fixed traditional patterns that may include a specific rhyme scheme, meter, line length, or stanza structure.

­Free verse

• uses poetic language but does not follow a specific pattern.

­Lyric poetry

• expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker, often in a musical verse.

Haiku

• a short, unrhymed poem, often about nature. Has one three line stanza that follows a 5­7­5 syllabic pattern.

Elegy

• a formal poem reflecting on death or other serious theme.
• Structure and rhyme scheme can vary.

Ode

• a formal poem of honor or celebration.
• Often has a regular meter and end rhyme but the number and length of the lines and stanzas can vary.

Sonnet ­

• 14 line poem of praise with a specific rhyme scheme.

­Narrative poetry

• tells a story.
• Includes ballads and epic poetry.
• Follows a formal structure with set stanzas, strong rhythms, and regular rhyme

­Dramatic poetry

• presents drama in verse.
• Action is told through the words the characters speech.

­Concrete poetry­-visual

• appearance matches the topic of the poem.

Poetic language

Examples of Poetic Language

• Figurative language
• idiom
• imagery
• allusion
• personification
• oxymoron
• hyperbole
• symbol
• pun
• understatement

Poetic Sound Devices

Examples

• Alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition

Speaker

• person or character who communicates the words of the poem.
• (Don’t assume the voice in the poem is the poet's!)

Connotation

• Words that are associated with feelings.
• Negative and positive.

Tone

• The attitude the writer has toward their subject showed through word choice.
• respectful, admiring, sorrowful, pity

Word choice:

• rare, exquisite, inspire
• isolated, loneliness

THE END!