Elements of Poetry
What is a stanza?
A group of lines in a poem.
“The stars danced in the sky.” What kind of figurative language is used here?
Personification — stars can’t really dance.
What pronouns show first-person point of view?
I, me, my, we.
What does P.I.E. stand for?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain.
What punctuation marks go around the exact words someone says?
Quotation marks (“ ”)
Why do poets use repetition?
To emphasize an idea or create rhythm.
“The mouse was as small as a pebble, but his heart was as strong as a lion’s.” What kind of figurative language is that?
Simile — compares using as.
Who is telling the story in Kitoto the Mighty — a character or a narrator outside the story?
A narrator outside the story (third person).
In The Year of the Rat, Pacy often talks about missing her best friend Melody. Why might Grace Lin include those parts in the story?
To show how change and friendship can be hard but help us grow.
Fix the sentence:
flora said ulysses can really type poems
Flora said, “Ulysses can really type poems.”
In Flora & Ulysses, Ulysses’ poems often repeat words. What feeling does this create?
It shows his excitement and wonder.
In Kitoto the Mighty, the author writes, “The river laughed over the stones.” What kind of figurative language is that?
Personification — giving the river human qualities.
In The Year of the Rat, Pacy says, “Sometimes I feel like everyone else has moved on, but I’m still the same.” What does this show about the point of view?
It’s first person — we hear Pacy’s inner thoughts and feelings directly.
In Kitoto the Mighty, the author shows a small mouse helping a huge lion. Why did Bernard Ashley (the author) include this event?
To teach that even the smallest creature can be brave.
In Kitoto the Mighty, the narrator says the lion was “trapped in a hunter’s net.” What is the subject and predicate of that sentence?
Subject: the lion
Predicate: was trapped in a hunter’s net.
What is one difference between a poem and a story?
A poem uses stanzas, rhythm, and imagery to express feelings.
In The Year of the Rat, Pacy says, “My stomach felt like a washing machine on spin cycle.” What kind of figurative language is used?
Simile — compares her nervousness using like.
In Kitoto the Mighty, how does the narrator help us understand Kitoto’s character?
It shows that Kitoto feels scared but brave enough to help the lion.
In Flora & Ulysses, the author includes Ulysses’ poems about love and hope. What does this show about Kate DiCamillo’s (the author) purpose?
To entertain readers and remind them that kindness and imagination can change the world.
What does the prefix re- mean, as in the word rebuild from Kitoto the Mighty?
It means again.
(Rebuild = build again.)
Why might an author choose to write in poetry form instead of prose?
To create mood, sound patterns, or emphasize emotions.
In Flora & Ulysses, the narrator says Ulysses’ poems “glowed with light.” What does this figurative language show about Ulysses’ writing?
Metaphor — it compares his poems to light, showing that his words bring hope or inspiration.
In Flora & Ulysses, the story sometimes shifts to Ulysses’ thoughts, like when he “marveled at the giant roundness of the world.” What does this reveal about his character and point of view?
It shows that we see the world the way Ulysses does — he’s curious and full of wonder.
How do Kitoto the Mighty and The Year of the Rat have similar author’s purposes?
Both authors want to show that courage and staying true to yourself can make a big difference.
Read this sentence from Flora & Ulysses:
“Flora smiled and whispered, ‘Holy unanticipated occurrences!’”
What kind of sentence is this, and what does unanticipated mean?
It’s an exclamatory sentence, and unanticipated means not expected.