poetry

Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with a rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Read the following Introductions to poetry... as well as the poems used to introduce Poetry to you.

The Three Pillars of Poetry Read this introduction which explains how emotion, image, and word music create poetry

Poetry and Everyday Life

Introduction to Poetic Writing

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

OVERVIEW OF POETRY BASICS

Poetry Workshop	Introduces the basics of Poetry.
All Lessons	This page will tell you everything you need to know about each element of poetry. USE IT!!
Exploring a Poem	Use this handout as you read poetry
Glossary of Poetry Terms

ACTIVITIES TO PREVIEW POETRY BASICS

Poetry Terms	A one-page handout giving examples of each poetic device
Poetic Terms 2	Definitions and Activities that teach poetic terms
Poetry in Motion Exercise
Poetry Writing Practice
Poetry Toolbox	Discusses word choice, rhyme and refrain
Poetic Devices -	a classroom sign about the forms of poetic devices
Three Pillars of Poetry	Explore the emotion, images, and music of poetry
Exploding a Poem Explode a Poem (instructions)	How to understand Poetry
How to Write a Poem
Comparing Two Poems	Use this chart to help you write a comparison of two poems
Poetic Terms Crossword Puzzle

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR POETRY BASICS

TESTS FOR POETRY BASICS

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

Identify and explain figurative language in poetry & prose (7 – onomatopoeia and alliteration // 8 – hyperbole, imagery, and symbolism) CA2, 1.5, 1.6

LESSONS ON FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

LESSON

Learn to tell the difference between literal and figurative language, as well as symbolism

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Poetic Devices	a classroom sign about the forms of poetic devices
Figurative Language	Metaphors, Similes, Analogies
Figurative Language Jeopardy	Online Activity
The Ruined City Activity

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

TESTS FOR FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION

LESSON #1
LESSON #2

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION

Euphemisms

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION

QUIZ #1

TESTS FOR CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON THEME

Lesson One: Theme

Hey! What's the Big Idea?

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH THEME

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR THEME

TESTS FOR THEME

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON PURPOSE

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH PURPOSE

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR PURPOSE

TESTS FOR PURPOSE

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON MOOD

Lesson One: MOOD

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night!

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH MOOD

Mood Charades

Step 1
Tone, mood and emotion are very subjective and hard to explain. Mood is probably the easiest one to start with. Each student should describe what a bad mood would look and sound like, then a good mood. Students should then be able to give pretty good explanations of each. Then move on to more complex moods. Come up with 20 different moods, and write each on a slip of paper.

Examples to get you started:

Nervous
Confused
Frustrated
Hopeful
Excited
Stern
Uncertain
Confident

Step 2
Get students together for a game of Mood Charades! It's easy to play, but hard to win. Split into two teams. Each team should take turns. In a turn, a team member draws one of the mood slips from a hat or bowl. They must act out the mood, without saying a word! Set a time limit on the turn (thirty seconds should be about right), and see if their team members can shout out the correct mood! If so, they earn themselves a point, and it is the other team's turn. Play until all mood slips have been drawn. The team with the most points wins!

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR MOOD

TESTS FOR MOOD

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON METAPHORS AND SIMILES

LESSON ON METAPHORS
SIMILE LESSON
Lesson and Examples of Metaphors
Review of Similes and Metaphors

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH METAPHORS AND SIMILES

Understanding Similes and Metaphors
Alliteration or Simile	Choose whether each statement is an alliterative phrase, simile or neither
Simile lesson	with a printable quiz
Figurative Language	Metaphors, Similes, Analogies
Metaphors
Similes
7^th Grd. eMints Writing	Similes and Metaphors

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR METAPHORS AND SIMILES

METAPHOR QUIZ
SIMILE QUIZ
SIMILE AND METAPHOR QUIZ

TESTS FOR METAPHORS AND SIMILES

Metaphor	Students will compose a poem using only metaphors to describe a day at school. First, they should describe what their teacher, classmates, and classroom are like. For example, is the teacher nice but a little sour? The schoolwork bland and boring? “Ms. Crabapple is a yellow lemon/who turns punctuation into porridge.”
Simile	Students will plan a picnic, using similes. What to pack? How about apples green as a grasshopper, rhubarb pie with whipped cream like clouds, or a sub sandwich big as a baseball bat?

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON PERSONIFICATION

Personification Examples
Personification Classics
Personification Example
Definition of Personification
Personification Lesson

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH PERSONIFICATION

eMints Writing
Personification Practice
The Sky is Low	by Emily Dickenson What kind of words does she use to set the mood of the poem? Can you think of other words that might do the same thing? How does she intensify the image of an unpleasant day by using personification? What does she compare nature to? Why do you think she does this?
Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room	by William Blake What is different about how Blake uses personification in his poem? Why do you think he chooses to have the sunflowers talk? What kinds of descriptive words does Blake use? Why do you think he uses these words?
April Rain Song	by Langston Hughes What are Langston Hughes' feelings toward rain? What does he want his audience to do? How does personification help him make his point? How is his use of personification different from that of Dickinson or Blake? What do you notice about the language he uses to describe the rain? How does he use repetition to make his point?
Graphic Organizer	Use this to chart examples of personification
If You Like My Poems, then let them	by ee cummings
The Spring	by Delmore Schwartz
Trees	by Joyce Kilmer
Personification Worksheet
Personification Worksheet
Personification Worksheet

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR PERSONIFICATION

Personification Quiz

TESTS FOR PERSONIFICATION

Many children's books and movies show a world where everything - the trees, the rivers, the animals, and the stars - have a voice. Students will "write the world alive" by personifying everything around them. If that table were a person, what would he or she be like? What about likes and dislikes? How would the table get along with the other furniture in the the room? You can take this exercise outside, around town, or use objects found around the house for a prose piece featuring dialog, humor, or drama.

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON SOUND EFFECTS IN POETRY

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH SOUND EFFECTS IN POETRY

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR SOUND EFFECTS IN POETRY

TESTS FOR SOUND EFFECTS IN POETRY

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words.

LESSONS ON ALLITERATION

Alliteration Lesson #1

Mrs. Dowling's Lesson on Alliteration

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ALLITERATION

Shakespearean alliteration insults	have fun while reinforcing the concept of alliteration
Alliteration or Simile?	Choose whether each statement is an alliterative phrase, simile or neither.

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR ALLITERATION

QUIZ #1

TESTS FOR ALLITERATION

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON ALLITERATION

Alliteration Lesson #1

Mrs. Dowling's Lesson on Assonance

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ALLITERATION

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR ALLITERATION

LESSON QUIZ

TESTS FOR ALLITERATION

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON ONOMATOPOEIAS

ONOMATOPOEIA LESSON #1
Onomatopoeia Lesson #2

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ONOMATOPOEIAS

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR ONOMATOPOEIAS

QUIZ 1
QUIZ 2

TESTS FOR ONOMATOPOEIAS

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON HYPERBOLE

LESSON #1
DESE Model Curriculum: Common Hyperbole's
Lesson #2

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH HYPERBOLE

DESE Model Curriculum: Hyperbole

Read: Father William by Lewis Carroll

“The Cowboy’s Home on Wheels” by LeeAnn Blankenship

"The Prize" by Meridee Jones Cecil

“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein

“The Secret of Oak Island Money Pit” by Sharon Barry

Read: Father William by Lewis Carroll

Questions:

1) What are examples of hyperbole in the poem?

2) What makes these examples of hyperbole?

3) What effect does the use of hyperbole have on the overall poem?

4) What is the author’s purpose in using each hyperbole?

5) Can hyperboles be used in nonfiction works? Why or why not?

“The Cowboy’s Home on Wheels” by LeeAnn Blankenship

Questions:

1) What are two examples of hyperbole in the article?

2) What makes these examples of hyperbole?

3) What effect does each hyperbole have on the overall text?

4) What is the purpose of each hyperbole?

“The Prize” by Meridee Jones Cecil

Questions:

1) What are some examples of hyperboles?

2) What makes each example a hyperbole?

3) What effect does each hyperbole have on overall text?

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR HYPERBOLE

QUIZ

TESTS FOR HYPERBOLE

“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein	Complete a graphic organizer to identify and give the purpose of at least four hyperboles from the poem
“The Secret of Oak Island Money Pit” by Sharon Barry	Write the paragraph/paragraphs and underline the inserted hyperboles

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON IMAGERY

LESSON#1

DESE's Model Curriculum: Imagery

Read the following:

“A Retrieved Reformation” by O. Henry (for Summative Assessment)

“Discovery” by Marion Dane Bauer (for Summative Assessment)

“The Language of Horses” by Monty Roberts

Poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes

Lesson #2

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH IMAGERY

The Acrobat	The Imagery Trick -- 7th Grade
Say It Again	Describe certain actions, without key words

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR IMAGERY

QUIZ

TESTS FOR IMAGERY

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON SYMBOLISM

Symbol	Symbols are people, places, or things used to represent something else in literature.
Symbol -- Definition of Symbol for Creative Writers	Definition of the literary term, symbol, as used by writers, and in literature and art.

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH SYMBOLISM

Yellow Man by Moonlight

Students work in groups of four to answer the following questions related to the use of symbolism as used in the article.

1) Is the setting symbolic? Explain why or why not using two details from the article.

2) Is the main character symbolic? Explain why or why not using two details from the article.

3) Is Yellow Man symbolic? Explain why or why not using two details from the article.

4) Do you see evidence of symbolism in the author’s use of words/language? If so, give one or two specific example(s) and give the literal and abstract meaning of each example cited.

Mother to Son

Students work independently to answer the following questions related to symbolism as used in the poem.

1) Is the setting symbolic? Explain why or why not using two details from the poem. Note to teacher: The setting of the staircase in the poem Mother to Son by Langston Hughes symbolizes struggles in life.

2) Is the main character symbolic? Explain why or why not.

3) Name two objects mentioned in the poem that are symbolic. For each example, tell what the object symbolizes.

4) Is there evidence of symbolism in the author’s use of words/language? If so, give one or two specific example(s) and tell the literal and abstract meaning of each example cited.

Dictionary of Symbolism

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR SYMBOLISM

TESTS FOR SYMBOLISM

Amir	Take this exam over Amir

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON ANALOGIES

ANALOGY LESSON
ANALOGY WHEN WRITING
SOLVING ANALOGIES

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ANALOGIES

Analogy Challenge	Try to complete the analogies in a race against time.
Awesome Analogies
Fact Monster	Analogy of the Day

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR ANALOGIES

Analogy Quiz	which requires students to type the word to complete the analogy
Analogy quiz 1	at Quia posted by Diana Dell
Analogy quiz 2	at Quia posted by Diana Dell
AnalogyQuiz8	Discovery School Analogy Quizzes
AnalogyQuiz9	Discovery School Analogy Quizzes
AnalogyQuiz10	Discovery School Analogy Quizzes

TESTS FOR ANALOGIES

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS FOR 7TH GRADE POETRY

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH 7TH GRADE POETRY

Poem: Did I Ever Stop
Poem: All Around the Christmas Tree
Poem: Our Heritage American
Poem: Thankful to Know
Poem: The Leader
Poem: I Build Walls
Poem: Charity
Poem: As I Awake
Poem: You
Poem: Memories
Writing a BioPoem
eServer Online Poetry Collections
Poetry 180:	A Poem for Every Day of School
Poetry Exercises:	Online exercises
30 Days of Poetry
The Acrobat	The Imagery Trick -- 7th Grade
Poem Into the Future	Writing A Poem for Future Aliens
How to Write About a Poem	Use this to help you write a poetry analysis
The Cremation of Sam McGee	Read this poem and complete this packet

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR 7TH GRADE POETRY

TESTS FOR 7TH GRADE POETRY

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON ALLITERATION

Alliteration Lesson #1

Mrs. Dowling's Lesson on Alliteration

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ALLITERATION

Worksheet	Print or make your own worksheet on notebook paper
eServer Online Poetry Collections
Poetry 180:	A Poem for Every Day of School
Poetry Exercises:	Online exercises
30 Days of Poetry
Writing Love Poems	The Basics of love poetry
Annabelle Lee	Packet and activity on Edgar Allen Poe's poem

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR ALLITERATION

TESTS FOR ALLITERATION

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

LESSONS ON ALLITERATION

Alliteration Lesson #1

Mrs. Dowling's Lesson on Alliteration

ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ALLITERATION

Worksheet	Print or make your own worksheet on notebook paper
eServer Online Poetry Collections
Poetry 180:	A Poem for Every Day of School
Poetry Exercises:	Online exercises
30 Days of Poetry

QUIZZES AND SELF-CHECKS FOR ALLITERATION

TESTS FOR ALLITERATION

Introduction to Poetryby Billy Collins

Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins