Poetry Basics
What is diction?
The writer's intentional word choice.
Are the words "wonderful," "amazing," and "beautiful" examples of positive or negative diction?
Positive diction.
"I can't wait! This is going to be the best day ever!" What is the tone?
Excited, joyful, or enthusiastic.
In Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing," who is singing?
Different American workers.
This is Ms. T's favorite team sport.
What is soccer?
In poetry, what do we call each row of words?
Is the sentence "Yo, what's up?" formal or informal diction?
Informal diction.
"Nothing ever goes my way. There's no point in trying." What is the tone?
Pessimistic, hopeless, or discouraged.
Does Whitman view American workers positively or negatively?
Positively. He admires and celebrates them.
Every Tuesday evening this paraeducator enjoys this snack.
What is popcorn?
What is the speaker in a poem?
The voice, person, or author speaking in the poem.
Which word has a more negative feeling: "confident" or "arrogant"?
Arrogant.
"Don't worry. I'm here for you, and we'll get through this together." What is the tone?
Caring, comforting, or sympathetic.
Whitman describes mechanics singing "blithe and strong." What tone does this create?
A joyful, proud, or admiring tone.
Rocky Road
What is Ms. T's favorite flavor of ice cream?
What is perspective?
How the speaker views the world or topic.
Compare these two sentences: "The boy walked into the room" and "The boy stormed into the room." Which word suggests anger?
Stormed.
"Get out of my way! I've told you a hundred times!" What is the tone?
Angry, aggressive, or frustrated.
Whitman describes each worker singing their own song. What does this suggest about identity?
Each person has a unique identity, abilities, and contributions to society.
What was Ms. V's first job?
Working at McDonalds
What is the difference between diction and tone?
Diction is the words a writer chooses.
Tone is the speaker's attitude or feelings.
Diction helps create tone.
Rewrite the sentence "She looked at him" using diction that suggests fear.
"She stared at him nervously" or "She glanced at him with terror."
"Although the journey was difficult, I believe better days are ahead." What is the tone? Which words support your answer?
Optimistic or hopeful.
Evidence: "I believe better days are ahead."
Name one group whose voices are not clearly represented in Whitman's poem. Why does this matter?
Examples include enslaved people or Indigenous Americans. It shows that Whitman's celebration of America does not equally represent everyone's experiences.
How many dogs and kids does Ms. V have?
2 puppies, 1 daughter