Poems & Poetry

Each day for the next two school weeks, you will learn about and practice writing different styles of poems...

Take notes in your notebook

Practice poems will be written on separate paper, and turned-in

Week One: Week Two:Mon: English SonnetTue: Italian SonnetWed: BalladeThu: BalladFri: Ode

Mon: HaikuTue: TankaWed: CinquainThu: LimerickFri: Quiz & Open Choice

What is a Sonnet?

A sonnet is a poem about an expressive thought or idea

14 lines, each line is 10 syllables long

Its rhymes are arranged according to one of two schemes or styles: Italian or English...

Italian = Two quatrains followed by six lines

English = Three quatrains followed by a rhyming couplet

The Structure of a Sonnet

The “recipe” of a sonnet depends on the style used...

English-style sonnet: A-B-A-B | C-D-C-D | E-F-E-F | G-G

Italian-style sonnet: A-B-B-A | A-B-B-A | C-D-E-C-D-E

The LETTERS indicate end rhyming words

Example of an English-style Sonnet

(A) Scribbler! oh what a joy you can find here (B) Eric is the one that heads the great team (A) Full of poems, stories and happy cheer (B) Hopefully it will make our readers gleam

(C) Bronte's Grammar is full of homework help (D) Guest authors revealing secrets galore (C) While the tricky puzzles will make you yelp (D) There is no way Scribbler! will make you snore

(E) Eric will start a tale needing an end (F) Fancy a challenge? Puzzle Time is here (E) Shakespeare picks the great pictures you all send (F) Ev'ry issue's jam-packed, let's give a cheer

(G) How 'bout finding Eric hidden away (G) Jump on the Scribbler! wagon, come and play!

Your Turn to Write a Sonnet

Use the structure rules to write a sonnet about:Your favorite time of year (ex: holiday, birthday, vacation)

Some things to consider or envision:- The season- Who or what your see, smell, hear- Where you are- What you do on the day(s)- Are you alone? If not, who are you with

What is a Ballade?

A ballade is a type of poem that first became popular in 14th century Europe

In old times, a ballade was often taught and recited with music or rhythm to be learned more easily

The Structure of a Ballade

The “recipe” of a ballade includes three “ingredients” . . . StanzaEnvoyRefrain

Rhyme scheme for the stanzas is a-b-a-b

Rhyme scheme for the envoy is b-c-b-C

The capital letters in the rhyme schemes show where the refrain will be

Example of a Ballade

(a) The bell sounds its last ring(b) And others join in symphony.(a) Down the street I’m running(b) Twelve whole weeks in front of me.

(b) No more boring History,(c) Or listening to what teachers say.(b) This is the day that makes me happy(C) Because I am on holiday! (Capital C = holiday; holiday is the refrain)

(a) I wonder what the summer will bring?(b) Jumping in rivers and climbing a tree,(a) When the sun is bright and shining.(b) Staying indoors when outside it’s rainy.

(b) Playing on the Xbox or the Wii.(c) Whatever the weather I’ll be okay.(b) No more happy could I be(C) Because I am on holiday! (Capital C = holiday; holiday is the refrain)

Your Turn to Write a Ballade

Use the structure rules to write a ballade about:Your favorite food or cuisine (style; Chinese, for example)

Some things to consider before writing:- Who or what your see, smell, hear- Where are you when you eat your favorite food/cuisine?- How is it prepared or who prepares it?- What are the ingredients?- Are you alone when you eat it? If not, who are you with?- Why do you enjoy it so much?

What is a Ballad?

A Ballad is a poem that tells a story

Ballads are often used in songwriting because of their rhyme scheme

A ballad is a poetic story, often a love story

The Structure of a Ballad

The ballad structure is as simple as matching end rhyme

words in pairs (A-A-B-B) or triplets (A-A-A-B-B-B)

Example of a Ballad

(A) Late this morning, early last night

(A) Two dead boys got up to fight.

(B) Back-to-back each faced the other,

(B) Drew their swords and shot each other.

(C) A deaf policeman heard the noise

(C) He came and shot alive the two dead boys

(D) Don’t believe my story’s true?

(D) Ask the blind man, he saw it too!

Your Turn to Write a Ballad

Use the structure rules to write a ballad about:Walking down the hallway at school

Some things to consider or envision:- The time of day- Who or what your see, smell, hear- Where you came from (ex: your locker)- Where you are going- What you are thinking- Are you alone? If not, who are you with

What is an Ode?

An ode is a lyric poem

An ode usually addresses a particular person or thing

The style originated in Ancient Greece

Structure of an Ode

An ode does not have a rhyme scheme or syllable count

An ode does have lines, and follow a single theme

Odes use similes, metaphors, and sometimes hyperbole.

Example of an Ode

Oh Olive,You are as precious to me as any gem,With your beautiful, pure skin as smooth as silkAnd as green as the grass in summertime.I love your taste and the smell of your tender fruitWhich hides beneath your green armor.

Oh Olive, sweet, tasty Olive,How I love you so and my mealtimes wouldn't be the sameIf you weren't in my life.

Oh Olive,Nothing can compare to you, nothing at all,You are food of the gods, a king's richesAnd, most importantly, you are mine, oh Olive!

Your Turn to Write an Ode

Use the structure rules to write an ode about:Your favorite celebrity / famous person

Some themes or topics to consider:Dreams, Emotions, Family, Friendship, Hopes, Loss, Love, Memories, etc.

In-class ode must have four quatrains

After in-class ode is checked-off, write another ode about whatever topic you wish

What are Cinquain, Haiku, & Tanka Poems?

Cinquain, Haiku, and Tanka poems are short-verse works that usually don’t have a rhyme scheme (though they can)

All three types of poems follow strict rules on syllable counts per line

All three types of poems usually follow a single theme and express a thought or feeling about the theme

Structures of Cinquain, Haiku, & Tanka Poems

Cinquain syllable counts per line:Line 1 = Two syllablesLine 2 = Four syllablesLine 3 = Six syllables

Line 4 = Eight syllablesLine 5 = Two syllables

Haiku syllable counts per line:Line 1 = Five syllables

Line 2 = Seven syllablesLine 3 = Five syllables

Tanka syllable counts per line:Line 1 = Five syllables

Line 2 = Seven syllablesLine 3 = Five syllables

Line 4 = Seven syllablesLine 5 = Seven syllables

Examples of Cinquain, Haiku, & Tanka Poems

Cinquain(2-4-6-8-2)

Haiku(5-7-5)

Tanka(5-7-5-7-7)

My momIs so caring

She is always helpfulShe is so beautiful and kind

My mom

The sky is so blueThe sun is so warm up high

I love the summer

I love my kittenShe is so little and cute

She has a pink noseAnd lots of long whiskers tooShe purrs loud when I pet her

Your Turn to Write a Cinquain, Haiku, & Tanka

Use the structure rules to write a cinquain, a haiku, and a tanka

Some themes or topics to consider:- Dreams- Emotions- Family- Friendship- Hopes- Loss- Love- Memories

What is a Limerick?

Silly five-line poem that makes fun of something or teases; some are really quite mean-spirited and vulgar

The style originated in 13th century England churches, but not well-known until 18th century

Limericks have set rhyme meter and scheme rules that must be followed

Structure of a Limerick

Rhyme scheme = A-A-B-B-A

Rhyme meter:da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (A)da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (A)da DUM da da DUM (B)da DUM da da DUM (B)da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (A)

Examples of a Limericks

There was an old man from Peru (A = “ooh” sound)

Who dreamed he was eating his shoe (A = “ooh” sound)

He awoke in the night (B = “ite” sound)

With a terrible fright (B = “ite” sound)

To find that his dream was quite true (A= ooh sound)

There once was a fellow named Tim (A = “im” sound)

Whose dad never taught him to swim (A = “im” sound)

He fell off a dock (B = “ock” sound)

And sunk like a rock (B = “ock” sound)

And that was the end of him (A = “im” sound)

The limerick packs laughs anatomical (A = “ickle”)

Into space that is quite economical (A = “ickle”)

But the good ones I've seen (B = “een”)

So seldom are clean (B = “een”)

And the clean ones so seldom are comical (A = “ickle”)

Your Turn to Write a Limerick

Keep in mind the meter ... The poem should be said aloud in a sing-song meter

Keep to one topic or theme throughout the poem

Target is three in-class practice poems

Keep rhyme scheme in mind ... The limerick must rhyme every line or every other line

Topic or theme ideas:– Advice about life– A funny idea– A moral lesson– A silly story based on something that happened in your life

Structure of an Acrostic

A word or phrase is chosen to be written vertically down the side or middle of a paper

“Cross” words are made using the letters of the “down” word(s)– The “proper” method is to use the letters of the “down” words as the first

letters of “cross” words– If necessary, the “down” word letters can be end or middle letters of the

“cross” words

Acrostics DO NOT have to rhyme, but making them rhyme is a fun challenge; it is also challenging to try making a sentence (or even a paragraph) out of the acrostic

Acrostics are written for a single theme or topic

Example of an Acrostic

Awesomely annoying

Cross words

Really fun and challenging

Often used for study guides

Simple to do

Topic- or theme-related

It doesn’t have to rhyme

Consider making it rhyme for a challenge

Your Turn to Write an Acrostic

Try to use each “down” letter as the first letter of a “cross” word

You can use “down” letters for middle or end letter of “cross” words

Try to either make it rhyme, or to make it one single sentence

Incorporate elements of the topic or theme into the acrostic

Topic:– Your first name, middle initial, and last name

Your Turn to Write an Acrostic

CreativeHeftyAuthoritativeDaffy

AnnoyingManatee-like

Land-WalrusObesePersonExcessiveSuccessful