Poetry Basics
This is the subject a poem is mainly about, usually expressed in one or two words.
What is the topic?
When a poet uses an object, person, color or image to represent a deeper idea, this technique is used.
What is symbolism?
This poetic device involves repeating words or phrases to emphasize an idea.
What is repetition?
This punctuation mark can indicate a pause or interruption in a line of poetry.
What is a dash?
What is the theme of this stanza from I am Offering this Poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca
Keep it like a warm coat
when winter comes to cover you,
or like a pair of thick socks
the cold cannot bite through,
I love you
What is love can provide comfort and protection?
This is the central message or lesson a reader takes away from a poem
What is the theme?
A poet compares grief to a heavy backpack that someone carries everywhere. This is an example of this figurative language.
What is a metaphor?
The repetition of beginning consonant sounds in nearby words is called this.
What is alliteration?
This punctuation mark separates ideas, items, or introductory clauses from independent clauses.
Example: Henry loves his dog___but he does not like his mom's cat.
What is a comma?
His voice carries out to the water where boats are tied
and sings for all of them, a wave.
For the hens, now roosting in trees,
for the mute boy next door, his second-best friend.
"His voice" carries across the water and the community bridging it. What use of figurative language is this?
What is symbolism?
This is the person or voice in a poem
What is the speaker or narrator?
A poet describes the wind as whispering secrets through the trees. This is an example of this figurative language.
What is personification?
This poetic device appeals to the five senses and helps readers create mental pictures.
What is imagery?
This punctuation mark introduces an explanation, example, or list.
Example: I'm taking the following classes___AP Biology, French IV, and Spanish IV.
What is a colon?
In lines 7 and 13 what figurative language is used...
I love you, 7
I have nothing else to give you,
so it is a pot full of yellow corn
to warm your belly in winter,
it is a scarf for your head, to wear
over your hair, to tie up around your face,
I love you, 13
What is repetition or anaphora?
This type of theme reflects the experiences, traditions, or values of a particular cultural group.
What is a culturally significant theme?
A poet repeatedly uses a broken clock to represent lost time and missed opportunities. What does the broken clock function as?
What is symbolism?
When a poet repeats a phrase at the beginning of several lines or stanzas, this poetic device is used.
What is anaphora?
This is a group of lines in a poem, separated from other groups by spaces.
What is a stanza?
The word "and" is an example of figurative language in the following stanza:
and I will answer, give you directions,
and let you warm yourself by this fire,
rest by this fire, and make you feel safe
What is repetition?
This type of theme expresses an idea about human experiences that people across different cultures can understand.
What is an universal theme?
A poet describes a character's sadness through images of dark clouds, empty rooms, and fading light rather than directly stating that the character is sad. This is an example of this figurative
What is imagery?
A poet repeats the phrase "I remember" at the beginning of several lines. Explain the effect of this technique.
What is emphasizing memory and creating emotional impact?
When a poet continues a sentence from one line into the next without a grammatical pause at the end of the line, this technique is used.
What is enjambment?
The poet uses emjambent in line 3 to what effect?
when the world outside
no longer cares if you live or die;
remember, 3
I love you.
What is to reinforce the idea that they love the person.