Pathway to Poetry

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Pathway to Poetry

• What is poetry?

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Definitions of Poetry

• . . . The art of poetry is simply the art of
  electrifying language with extraordinary meaning
  
• Abercrombie, 1926

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Emily Dickinson

• If I read a book and it makes my whole body so
  cold no fire can warm me, I know that is poetry.
  If I feel physically as if the top of my head
  were taken off, I know that is poetry

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Robert Frost

• Poetry is metaphor, saying one thing and
  meaning another, the pleasure of ulteriority.
  Poetry is simply made of metaphor

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John Livingston Lowes

• The business of words in prose is primarily to
  state in poetry, not only to state, but also
  (and sometimes primarily) to suggest

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Ezra Pound

• Great literature is simply language charged with
  meaning to the utmost possible degree . . . The
  language of prose is much less high charged, that
  is perhaps the only availing distinction between
  prose and poesy

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Terms to Remember and Apply
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Metaphor

• Direct comparison of two unlike objects
• Uses identification or substitution
• Indicates a likeness or analogy
• Does not use the words like or as

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Can you explain the metaphors?

• All the worlds a stage
• Lifes but a walking shadow
• Hope is the thing with feathers that
• perches in the soul

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Simile

• Direct comparison of two unlike objects
• Uses words like or as
• Indicates a likeness or a similarity

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Can you explain the similes?

• The holy time is quiet as a nun
• And like a thunderbolt he falls
• The clock whirrs like insect wings

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Personification

• Figure of speech in which objects and animals
  have human qualities
• Giving human characteristics to inanimate
  objects, ideas, or animals

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Can you explain the personification?

• The red rose whispers of passion / And the
  white rose breathes of love
• The poor, the foul, the false love can admit
  but not the busied man

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Apostrophe

• Addressing a person or personified object not
  present
• Person or object is addressed as present

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Can you explain the apostrophes?

• O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!
• England, with all thy faults, I love thee
  still!
• Roll on thou deep and dark blue Ocean -- roll!

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Synecdoche

• Figure of speech in which a part represents the
  whole
• Mentioning a part of something to represent the
  whole

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Can you explain the synecdoches?

• All hands on deck!
• Three sails came into harbor

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Now its your turn . . .

• Identify the predominant figure of speech
• Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed
• his hands in the dirt

Did you say SYNECDOCHE?
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Try this one . . .

• Death is the broom
• I take in my hands
• To sweep the world clean

Did you say METAPHOR?
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Think about this one . . .

• Fair as a star, when only one
• Is shining in the sky.

Did you say SIMILE?
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What do you think about this one?

• Bright April shakes out
• her rain-drenched hair

Did you say PERSONIFICATION?