Literary Devices
If read metaphorically, what object in the poem "Snowball" is a metaphor?
The Captain makes the promise to put Sam some place warm/cremate him.
What are three examples of jargon when discussing the rhythm?
Answers will vary.
In an essay, a paragraph is a block of text which contains sentences. In a poem, a stanza is text which contains _________.
A stanza is made up of lines.
The novel is a more popular form of writing than poetry in modern society. True or False - The novel's popularity is because it is older than poetry.
The answer is false. Poetry is the oldest form of writing.
Animalia by Graeme Base is a children's picture book which moves through the alphabet, using what literary device?
Animalia uses alliteration.
In the poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night", one of the lines reads, "Rage, rage, against the dying light": What is the metaphorical meaning of "...the dying light"?
"...[T]he dying light" can represent the evening sun, old age, or the last moments of a person's life.
What are 3 examples of jargon when talking about the form of poetry?
Answers vary: Haiku, stanzas, lines, couplets, rhyme, etc.
In class, an analogy was made between music and poetry. If a measure in music contains notes, then what does a meter in poetry contain?
A meter in poetry contains syllables.
True or False: Poetry is bland or boring, because the only topics poetry is written about is friendship and heartbreak.
The answer is false. Poems are written about a wide variety of topics.
What is the definition of couplet?
A couplet is two lines of poetry which rhyme.
In the poem "Impossible Friendships", it reads "Or longs walk by the stream, whose depths hold hidden porcelain cups": What is the metaphorical meaning of "...porcelain cups"?
The metaphorical meaning of "...porcelain cups" indicates fragility, easily broken, shallow, or unsatisfying.
What are 3 examples of jargon when categorizing or talking about types of poetry?
Narrative, humorous, critique, sentimental were all discussed in class.
In class, we made an analogy between the essay and a poem. If an essay's individual sentences make up a paragraph, then what do a poem's individual lines make up?
Lines make stanzas.
Why is multiplicity especially important when interpreting/analyzing poetry?
Multiplicity is important because poems are meant to be interpreted in multiple different ways.
What is the specific and technical definition of jargon?
Jargon is the specific and technical language needed to write/speak about a specific and technical subject.
In the poem "The Road Not Taken", the first line reads, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood": What is the metaphorical meaning of "...a yellow wood"?
The meaning of "...a yellow wood" is that it is Autumn/Fall or the seasons are aging.
Without using metaphor as an example, what are three examples of jargon when discussing literary devices?
Answers will vary: personification, simile, anthropomorphism, paradox, imagery, etc...
In class, an analogy was made between music and poetry. If individual notes create measures in music, then what do individual syllables in poetry create?
Syllables create meter.
True or False: Because all poetry essentially uses the same form, form has no bearing on the meaning of a poem.
The answer is false. Poetic form does give meaning to a poem.
What is one difference between internal rhyme and end rhyme?
One difference between internal rhyme and end rhyme is that internal rhyme rhymes in the inside of a line of poetry and end rhyme rhymes at the end of a line of poetry.
In the poem "Impossible Friendships", one phrase of poetry is "...the salty smell of blood": What is the metaphorical meaning of this phrase?
The metaphorical meaning of this phrase is war, conflict, or bloodshed.
This is a class response question. Why or how are poems so effective in creating emotional impact on its readers?
Answers will vary.
The definition of rhythm is a combination of stressed and unstressed syllables. What is the analogy or definition of rhythm that was given in class?
Rhythm flows like a river.
Describe the reading process taught in class when reading poetry.
First, scan the poem checking for form, title, and author. Next, read the poem noting interesting things (literary devices, unknown words, important words). Afterwards, pause for second to consider and clear confusion. Finally, re-read the poem.