Teaching of Poetry

“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”-Woodworth

English literature is glimpsed in poetry and prose. Prose instruction involves a thorough study of
vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures. It helps kids improve their language skills because poetry
is a form of language that is utilised for enjoyment. Poetry is "a joy forever" and "a thing of beauty." Poetry
is a thing of beauty—beautiful in form, beauty in thought, beauty in mood, beauty in feelings. Poetry
teaching helps students develop their entire personalities, especially their emotional, imaginative,
intellectual, aesthetic, and intuitive sides. The study of poetry provides a wonderful opportunity for those
personality traits to grow that may not do so in a curriculum that emphasises pure intellect. Poetry is
made up of the best words arranged in the best rhythm. Its linguistic structure is metrical and musical.
The best kind of English literature is poetry, without which it would be tasteless and of no value.

Children find poetry to be very appealing, and poetry is the best way to kindle their interest in language. It
creates the foundation for appreciating language's aesthetic beauty. It develops their capacity for
imagination and uplifts their emotions.

There are two types of subject matter in poetry: that which is provided by outside objects, such as deeds,
events, and things we see around us, and that which is provided by the poet's own feelings and thoughts.
The first results in objective poetry, and the second in subjective poetry. In the first, he talks about what he
has seen or heard, whereas in the second, he adds his own thoughts to what he has seen or heard.

Sub-Genres of Poetry
Ode, Sonnet, Elegy, Ballad, Limerick, Haiku, Epic, Narrative, Free verse, Couplet

Characteristics of Teaching Poetry

● Poetry is the best words in their best rhythmical order.
● It is a musical and metrical form of language.
● Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and emotions.
● Poetry is a thing of beauty of form, beauty and ideas, thought and emotions.
● It is the rhythmical creation of thoughts in best words.
● Poetry is the best form of composition for expressing feelings, thoughts and emotions.
● Poetry is the criticism and appreciation of life.
● Poetry has three aspects i.e. Rhythm, emotions and imagination.
● Poetry is the best form of English literature.
● Poetry is a source of enjoyment and encouragement.
● The soul of literature is poetry.
● Poetry is simple, sensuous and appreciative of life.
● Poetry is made out of life, belongs to life and exists for life.
● Poetry is more memorable than prose.
● Poetry is a clear picture of human life and its problems.
● It helps in improving the pronunciation of the students.
● It is the best means for acquiring experiences.

Embibe: AI Powered Personalised Adaptive Learning & Outcomes Platform 1

General aims of teaching poetry
● To appreciate the poem.
● To recite the poem with proper rhythm and intonation etc.
● To enjoy recitation of the poem.
● To understand the thought and imagination of the poet contained in the poem.
● To create a love for English poetry among the students.
● To develop the student's aesthetic sense.
● To develop the all-round personality of the students.
● To develop a taste for poetry reading and writing.
● To train the emotion of the students.
● To develop the imaginative power of the students.

Primary Level
● To enjoy a poem.
● To read aloud the poem with proper rhythm and intonation.
● To enjoy recitation, individual or chorus of the poem.
● To develop a taste for poetry reading and writing.
Secondary Level
● To enjoy and appreciate the poem and its style.
● To appreciate the music, rhythm and beauty of the poem.
● To develop the understanding levels of the students.
● To make the students understand the thought and imagination contained in the poem.
● To train the emotion of the students.
Higher Secondary Level
● To enable the students to appreciate the poem.
● To appreciate the subject matter of the poem.
● To appreciate the image that presents the experience.
● To appreciate the rhythmic and musical touch of the poem.
● To train the emotion of the students.
● To develop the imaginative power of the students.
● To create an aesthetic sense among the students.
● To create a love for English literature in them.
● To help the students for composing small poems based on their thought and their feelings on a
particular theme.

Procedures and steps of teaching Poetry

It is impossible to establish a standard method for teaching poetry. Every poetry needs to be treated
uniquely. Therefore, a competent teacher must arrange his lesson thoroughly before entering the
classroom. One of the most important things a teacher can do to prepare for challenges in the classroom
is to plan lessons. Planning not only aids in the teacher's problem-solving in the classroom but also
enhances the effectiveness and interest of our teaching. A poem should not be read in sections but rather

Embibe: AI Powered Personalised Adaptive Learning & Outcomes Platform 2

as a complete. Teachers of poetry should avoid using as much explanation as they do while teaching
language.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the poetry are to be stated in behavioural terms; nevertheless, they may differ from
poem to poem depending on the primary theme. Here, the English teacher should familiarise himself and
the pupils with the generaland specific objectives of teaching poetry.

Material Aids: The English teacher should select a teaching tool that complements the poetry. It can be
a picture of the scene. The difficult words in the poem can also be explained with the help of practical
aids.

Previous knowledge: Before teaching the poem, the teacher should know the age, previous
experience, mental development and linguistic abilities of the students. The teacher should introduce the
new poem on the basis of the pupil’s previous knowledge. Asking previous questions helps the teacher to
make a bridge between the past experience and new experiences.

Introduction: The teacher should arouse interest of the students by creating situation for the poem. A
poem can be introduced in different ways.

Statement of the Aim: After introducing the poem, the next step is to give the statement of aim by
giving the title of the poem.

Model Reading: The teacher reads the poem loudly and the students are instructed to listen carefully
in reaction to the model reading by the teacher.

Gist of the Poem: To make the students familiar with the theme and matter of the poem, the teacher
tells the gist of the poem.

Pronunciation Drill: In this step, the teacher should derive the meaning of the difficult words and
phrases in the poem with the help of material aids such as drawing sketches, pictures or explain the
meaning directly.

Model Reading (II): A second reading should be done by the teacher to create an atmosphere and to
respond to the emotions of the poem. When the poem has been fully explained and discussed, the
teacher should read the poem once again.

Reading Aloud: After second model reading by the teacher, two or three students should be asked to
read the poem loudly with correct stress and intonation pattern.

Embibe: AI Powered Personalised Adaptive Learning & Outcomes Platform 3

Silent Reading: After loud reading by the students, now the students should be allowed judicious time
for silent reading. The students should be able to enjoy the poem. Silent reading helps the students to
grasp the meaning of the poem.

Comprehension questions: At this stage, the students should be asked questions in order to know
whether the students comprehend the poem entirely.

Appreciation questions: These questions are used to test the following appreciation.
● beauty of thought
● beauty of images
● beauty of emotions
● beauty of style and language

Choral recitation: The students will recite the poem with chorus. It helps them in overcome shyness.
Later on they can recite it independently.

Assignment: The assignment should be related to some creative work. The teacher may ask to
memories the lines of the poem or to write the gist of the poem.

Conclusion
If poetry is taught effectively in the classroom, it can aid a child's overall development. The importance of
teaching poetry in classrooms cannot be overstated. The poetry is all about beauty, emotions, and joy so
it has to be taught creatively and effectively. Poetry influences character building, asthetic sense and
emotions so, teaching poetry must be a free flow to the learners. Let students choose for themselves the
poems they are to learn by heart, each choosing his/her own favourites. Thus, only then can teachers
develop a taste for poetry and train their ear to the variety of beautiful sounds. Thus, only can teachers
rouse in them some idea of the wealth of poetry that lies before them. Remember that teachers must aim
at turning out readers of poetry, not students of poetry.

Reference:
● https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/curriculum-development/kla/eng-edu/references-resourc
es/Learning%20and%20teaching%20of%20poetry.pdf
● http://www.igntu.ac.in/eContent/BEd-02Sem-Dr.%20Gyanendra%20Kumar%20Rout-Pedagogy%20
-II,%20English.pdf
● https://mypedagogyofenglish1975.blogspot.com/2020/06/chapter04-teaching-of-poetry-english.
html
● http://ddeku.edu.in/Files/2cfa4584-5afe-43ce-aa4b-ad936cc9d3be/Custom/8.%20Teaching%20o
f%20Poetry.pdf

Embibe: AI Powered Personalised Adaptive Learning & Outcomes Platform 4