8th Grade Poetry
Mrs. Tweedy
Essential Questions
What is poetry?
Why can one poem mean different
things to different people?
What is more important, the
message, or the type of poetry used
to convey it?
Bio Poem
Line 1: Your first name
Line 2: Who is… (three adjectives that describe you)
Line 3: Who is brother or sister of...
Line 4: Who loves…(three ideas or people)
Line 5: Who feels… (three emotions)
Line 6: Who needs… (three ideas)
Line 7: Who gives… (three ideas)
Line 8: Who fears… (three ideas)
Line 9: Who would like to see…
Line 10: Who is a resident of…
Line 11: Your last name
Lines
A line in poetry is similar to the idea
of a sentence in writing.
Lines may be as short as one word or
very long, depending on the poem –
punctuation/grammar rules can be
bent in poetry.
When you have two lines together in
a poem (and they often rhyme), it is
called a COUPLET.
Stanza
A stanza is a group Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
of lines in a poem And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
– it can be To where it bent in the undergrowth;
anywhere from Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
three lines to the Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
entire poem. Had worn them really about the same,
It is similar to a And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
paragraph in Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
writing. I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Rhyming Scheme
A pattern of rhyme between the lines
of a poem.
Rhyming scheme is shown using
letters of the alphabet.
I shall be telling this with a sigh (A)
Somewhere ages and ages hence: (B)
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— (A)
I took the one less traveled by, (A)
And that has made all the difference. (B)
Robert Frost
Quatrain
A quatrain is a
four line
stanza or Example:
poem. The sense of danger must not disappear:
The way is certainly both short and steep,
The rhyming However gradual it looks from here;
scheme is
Look if you like, you will have to leap.
often ABAB or
AABB. -W.H. Auden
Cinquain
A cinquain is a five line poem.
Line 1: Title/Subject
Line 2: Pair of adjectives (describe subject)
Line 3: Three word phrase that describes the subject
Line 4: Four words describing feelings toward the subject.
Line 5: Synonym for line one
Limerick
Limericks are five line poems that
have a specific rhyming scheme and
syllable patterns.
They are meant to be jokes or funny
and use figurative language.
The last line of the poem should be
the “punch line” or heart of the joke.
Limerick
Lines 1, 2, and 5 must have seven to ten
syllables and rhyme with each other.
Lines 3 and 4 have five to seven syllables
and must rhyme with each other.
Rhyme scheme is:
(A)
(A)
(B)
(B)
(A)
Haiku
A form of Japanese poetry
Always consists of 17 syllables
Syllable pattern is:
5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables
Most often are written about things in
nature but can be about anything
Acrostic Poetry
Acrostic poetry can
be about any single
subject.
Write the topic
down the side of
our paper, then
write words or
phrases to describe
your topic.
Concrete Poetry
Concrete poetry is
also called shape
poetry.
The words are used
to create a picture.
Free Verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that does not
use traditional poetic devices such as:
Rhyme
Pattern
Or any other musical elements
The point of free verse is that YOU make up
the rules for each poem.
Line breaks
Stanzas
Rhyming Scheme
Figurative Language
Simile
Comparing two things AND using “like” or “as” in the comparison
His face was as hot as the sun.
Metaphor
Saying that one is like another
Does not use “like” or “as”
The horses hooves were thunder in my ears.
Personification
Giving human characteristics to non-human things.
The trees reached out and grabbed me as I walked along the
path.
Hyperbole
An extreme exaggeration
There were a million firefighters at the scene.
Poetic Devices
Repetition
The repeated use of a sound, word, or phrase
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds
Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore
Assonance
Word that have the same vowel sound
The cat in the hat swung a bat at the rat
Consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds at the middle or end of words
He did a flip that made him trip and rip his jeans.
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate a sound
Zoom, boom, meow, bang
Rhythm
Repeated patter of beats or stresses
Extended Metaphor Poem
An extended metaphor poem is a metaphor
that leads into other lines of poetry.
The metaphor continues throughout the
poem.
Remember – a metaphor is saying that one
thing is another, not using “like” or “as”
Example: The book was a gateway to another
world.
Examples of Extended Metaphor
Poems
The Shadow Cat
Life
by Alyssa Leystra by Jeremiah Gerdin and Denan Marquardt
The cat is the shadow Life is a sinkhole.
dancing on the wall. it once was level and fine.
Deep and dark and silent But over years it began to sink,
slinking down the hall. just as my outlook towards life.
Reveal him to the night And just when I thought the hole
and he disappears; could not get any deeper,
Lead him to the morning, it did.
There's nothing left to fear. Along with it went away my spirit to live
The cat is the shadow lively.
dancing on the wall, Now I am in too deep.
but let him find the darkness The walls are too slippery.
and he is hidden from us all. I can't get out.
I stop to try,
It's hopeless.
My spirit and I die.
Poetry
Lyric Poetry
This is a song-like (has a rhyming scheme)
poem that tells a story.
Narrative Poetry
This is poetry that tells a story but often does
not rhyme (usually done in free verse)
Ballad
A ballad is a poem that is meant to express the
poet’s thoughts or feelings (think of LOVE
poems!!)
Poet’s Toolbox
Theme
This is the message that the poet wants
to give the reader. This is not something
that is stated outright, you have to infer
it!
White Space
Blank space on the page, either between
words, lines, or stanzas. White space can
be just as powerful as the words in the
poem.
Poet’s Toolbox
Form
This is how a poem looks on a page – is it all
centered? Does it cascade across the page? Are
the lines short or very long?
Symbolism
This is used to represent an idea, person, image,
concept, etc.
Example:
The lion paced the halls of the school,
waiting for a student to pounce on.
He retreated to his den to await his prey,
Of delinquent students, he is most fond.
