ELA- Poetry

Grade 10

Poetry is about freedom and exposing yourself to new things. In fact, if you find yourself stuck in a
poem, just remember that the poet, 9 times out of 10, was a bit of a rebel and was trying to make his
friends look at life in a completely different way. Find your inner rebel too. There isn’t a single
poem out there that’s “too difficult” to try out – right now, today. So hop to it.

Poetry

Key Terms and Definitions

Poetry: a type of literature, or artistic writing, that attempts to stir a reader's imagination
or emotions. The poet does this by carefully choosing and arranging language for its
meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Verse: writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme. Verse is
writing that focuses on the rhythms and sounds made by words, not just their meaning.
Prose: written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure. Prose
is ordinary writing that is used for any purpose. There is no focus or emphasis on the
sounds or rhythms of the words in prose writing; just their basic function to communicate
meaning.

Sound
Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words placed near each
other, usually on the same or adjacent lines. Example: Peter and Andrew patted the pony
at Ascot
Onomatopoeia: Words that sound like their meanings. Example: boom, buzz, crackle,
gurgle, hiss, pop, sizzle, snap, swoosh, whir, zip Repetition: The re-use of words and
phrases for an effect like emphasizing. Example: I was glad; so very, very glad.
Rhyme: Words that have different beginning sounds but whose endings sound alike.
Example: time, slime, mime
Double rhymes include the final two syllables. Example: revival, arrival, survival
Triple rhymes include the final three syllables. Example: greenery, machinery,
scenery

Assonance: Repeated vowel sounds in words placed near each other, usually on the same
or adjacent lines. Example: He’s a bruisin’ loser
Rhythm: The pattern of accented and unaccented syllables in
words. Example: i THOUGHT i SAW a PUSsyCAT.

Meter: Meter is the organization of voice patterns (rhythm), in terms of both the
arrangement of stresses and their frequency of repetition per line of verse.

MEANING

Diction: refers to the specific word choices of the poet. When analysing the poet’s
diction, it is often most effective if you find similar words that can be grouped together,
as opposed to identifying only one word.
Contrast: Closely arranged things with strikingly different characteristics. Example: He
was dark, sinister, and cruel; she was radiant, pleasant, and kind. Figurative
Language: When the poet uses language or an expression that is not meant to be taken
literally. Examples of figurative language can include metaphors and hyperboles.
Hyperbole: An outrageous exaggeration used for effect.
Example: He weighs a ton.
Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things, stating that one is the
other or does the action of the other.
Example: Her fingers danced across the keyboard.
Personification: Attributing human characteristics to an inanimate object,
animal, or abstract idea.
Example: The days crept by slowly, sorrowfully.
Simile: A direct comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
Example: He’s as dumb as an ox.
Example: Her eyes are like comets.
Symbol: An ordinary object, event, animal, or person to which represents a separate
idea. Example: A small cross by the dangerous curve on the road reminded all of
Johnny’s death.
Connotation: an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to its
literal or primary meaning.
Denotation: The dictionary definition of a word.
Allusion: A brief reference in the poem to some person, historical event,
work of art, or Biblical or mythological situation or character.
Cliché: Any figure of speech that was once clever and original but through overuse
has become outdated. Example: busy as a bee
Euphemism: Expressing an idea in a manner that is less harsh or hurtful than
otherwise stated.
Example: She is at rest. (meaning: she’s dead)
Oxymoron: A combination of two words that appear to contradict each
other. Example: a pointless point of view; bittersweet.
Allegory: a story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden
meaning, typically a moral or political one.

STRUCTURE

Persona: when a poem is written in the first person perspective, we refer to the
“voice” or “speaker” in the poem as the persona.
Stanza: A division of a poem created by arranging the lines into a unit. Enjambment:
When one line of poetry runs on to the next without any punctuation at the end of the
line.
Rhyme Scheme: The pattern established by the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza
or poem, generally described by using letters of the alphabet to denote the
recurrence of rhyming lines, such as the ababbcc. x and y indicate unrhymed lines.
Rhetorical Question: A question solely for effect, which does not require an
answer. Example:O, Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Stanza Forms: The names given to describe the number of lines in a stanzaic unit,
such as: couplet (2), tercet (3), quatrain (4), quintet (5), sestet (6), septet (7), and
octave (8).
 Form: The arrangement or method used to convey the content, such as free verse,
ballad, haiku, etc. Here is a list of examples:
● Free Verse: poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm ●
Blank Verse: unrhymed lines of poetry written in iambic pentameter
● Haiku: Japanese form of poetry that has 5 – 7 – 5 syllables
● Couplet: a pair of successive lines of poetry, usually rhyming and/or are the same
length.
● Quatrain: a stanza of four lines, typically with alternating rhyme (abab) ●
Sonnet: a form of poetry that has 14 lines and follows various rhyme patterns ●
Shakespearean Sonnet: a style of sonnet used by Shakespeare with a rhyme
scheme of abab cdcd efef gg

● Villanelle: A lyrical poem of nineteen lines, with only two rhymes throughout, and
some lines repeated.
● Ballad: a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas
● Caesura: an abrupt pause in the middle of a line of poetry.

IMAGES

Imagery: The use of vivid language to generate ideas and/or evoke mental images,
not only of the visual sense, but of sensation and emotion as well. It is the
description of something using sensory details; i.e. creating an image in the reader’s
mind of what’s happening.
Examples:
● Sight: Smoke mysteriously puffed out from the clown’s ears.
● Sound: Tom placed his ear tightly against the wall; he could hear a faint but distinct
thump thump thump.
● Touch: The burlap wall covering scraped against the little boy’s
cheek. ● Taste: A salty tear ran across onto her lips.
● Smell: Cinnamon! That’s what wafted into his nostrils.

Tone: the tone of a poem refers to the feelings the poet (or persona) has towards
the subject of their poem; the attitude.
Mood: Mood is the atmosphere of a piece of writing; it’s the emotions a selection
arouses in a reader.

Tone Words with Definitions

1. accusatory-charging of wrong doing

2. apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern

3. awe-solemn wonder

4. bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief

5. cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people

7. contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

8. critical-finding fault

9. contemptuous-feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect

10. caustic-stinging, biting

11. conventional-lacking originality and individuality

12. disdainful-scornful

13. didactic-wanting to educate or instruct the reader

14. derisive-ridiculing, mocking

15. earnest-a sincere state of mind

16. erudite-learned, polished, scholarly

17. forthright-directly frank without hesitation

18. gloomy-sadness, full of rejection

19. haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance

20. indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice

21. judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions

22. jovial-happy

23. mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule

24. malicious-purposely hurtful

25. objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside

26. optimistic-hopeful, cheerful

27. pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope

28. reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect

29. ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of

30. reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions

32. sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic

33. satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach

34. sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine

35. solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection