An introduction to poetryAn introduction to poetry

Metaphors Be With YouMetaphors Be With You

(and similes, too)(and similes, too)

Metaphor Metaphor

A figure of speech which compares A figure of speech which compares two things that are really not alike in two things that are really not alike in most respects, but which seem alike most respects, but which seem alike in one meaningful way. In a in one meaningful way. In a metaphor, the comparison is made metaphor, the comparison is made without the use of such words as without the use of such words as “like” or “as.”“like” or “as.”

MetaphorsMetaphors

Examples:Examples:

The snow was a blanket on the field.The snow was a blanket on the field.

The music was medicine for my sick The music was medicine for my sick soul.soul.

SimilesSimiles

A simile is a figure of speech that A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two things that are directly compares two things that are not really alike in most respects, but not really alike in most respects, but that are alike in some way that makes that are alike in some way that makes the comparison effective. In a simile, the comparison effective. In a simile, the comparison is always made by using the comparison is always made by using specific comparing words such as “like” specific comparing words such as “like” or “as.”or “as.”

SimilesSimiles

Examples:Examples:

The snow covered the field like a The snow covered the field like a blanket.blanket.

Opening the doors to my favorite Opening the doors to my favorite stores was like pulling the ribbon off stores was like pulling the ribbon off an unexpected present.an unexpected present.

Metaphors Metaphors

Effective metaphors or not?Effective metaphors or not?

A Porsche 911 Turbo is a fast car.A Porsche 911 Turbo is a fast car.

A tornado is a funnel cloud.A tornado is a funnel cloud.

A heavy-metal rock star is a loud singer.A heavy-metal rock star is a loud singer.

Metaphors Metaphors

The old man’s face was a brittle page in The old man’s face was a brittle page in the book of his life.the book of his life.

Carpeting is indoor grass, lush and soft on Carpeting is indoor grass, lush and soft on the feet.the feet.

The locker room’s smell was an attack The locker room’s smell was an attack force, assaulting my nose with random force, assaulting my nose with random explosions of pungent odors.explosions of pungent odors.

Similes Similes

Effective similes; yes or no?Effective similes; yes or no?

Fresh-fallen snow is as cold as winter.Fresh-fallen snow is as cold as winter.

The black stallion was as black as coal.The black stallion was as black as coal.

Candy is like sugar: super sweet.Candy is like sugar: super sweet.

Similes Similes

The heavily tattooed man is like a walking The heavily tattooed man is like a walking storybook.storybook.

Lake Minnetonka is like a woman’s heart: Lake Minnetonka is like a woman’s heart: deep, murky, and mysterious.deep, murky, and mysterious.

During the last minute of passing period, During the last minute of passing period, Wayzata High School is like a beehive, Wayzata High School is like a beehive, with students buzzing frantically around, with students buzzing frantically around, trying to get to the right cell of the trying to get to the right cell of the honeycomb on time. honeycomb on time.

Shakespearean Sonnets: Shakespearean Sonnets: The basicsThe basics• Review

• Iambic Pentameter and the English Sonnet Style

• Shakespeare’s sonnets (154) are written predominantly in iambic pentameter, a rhyme scheme in which each sonnet line consists of ten syllables.

• The syllables are divided into five pairs called iambs or iambic feet. An iamb is a metrical unit made up of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. An example of an iamb would be good BYE. A line of iambic pentameter flows like this:

• baBOOM / baBOOM / baBOOM / baBOOM / baBOOM.

SonnetsSonnets

Sonnets were most often used as love poems. Romeo Sonnets were most often used as love poems. Romeo and Juliet recite one to one another when they meet and Juliet recite one to one another when they meet at the party. However, sonnets are used elsewhere in at the party. However, sonnets are used elsewhere in the play, too (such as in the prologues). the play, too (such as in the prologues).

The Shakespearean sonnet consists of three verses The Shakespearean sonnet consists of three verses with four lines in each verse, then a fourth verse with with four lines in each verse, then a fourth verse with only two lines. only two lines.

SonnetsSonnets

The structure of it might look like this:The structure of it might look like this:

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SonnetsSonnets

The rhyming pattern for the first three verses is:The rhyming pattern for the first three verses is:abab cdcd efefabab cdcd efef

This means the last word of the first line rhymes This means the last word of the first line rhymes with the last word of the third line. The last word of with the last word of the third line. The last word of the second line rhymes with the last word of the the second line rhymes with the last word of the fourth line in each quatrain. fourth line in each quatrain.

For the fourth verse (the two-line verse, known as a For the fourth verse (the two-line verse, known as a couplet) the rhyming pattern is gg. This means the couplet) the rhyming pattern is gg. This means the last word of the first line rhymes with the last word last word of the first line rhymes with the last word of the second line. of the second line.

SonnetsSonnets

Let’s look at a sonnet from Let’s look at a sonnet from Romeo Romeo and Julietand Juliet that all of you are that all of you are somewhat familiar with: The somewhat familiar with: The Prologue to Act 1Prologue to Act 1

SonnetsSonnets

Two households, both alike in dignity, Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona (where we lay our scene),In fair Verona (where we lay our scene),

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foesFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;Whose misadventured piteous overthrowsWhose misadventured piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.

The fearful passage of their death-marked love,The fearful passage of their death-marked love,And the continuance of their parents’ rage,And the continuance of their parents’ rage,

Which but their children’s end nought could remove,Which but their children’s end nought could remove,Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage.Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage.

The which if you with patient ears attend,The which if you with patient ears attend,What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

SonnetsSonnets

• The poem has 14 lines, arranged in three The poem has 14 lines, arranged in three verses of four lines, and a fourth verse of two verses of four lines, and a fourth verse of two lines.lines.

• It follows the rhyming pattern noted earlier.It follows the rhyming pattern noted earlier.

• Lastly, each line contains 10 syllables:Lastly, each line contains 10 syllables:

• From (1) forth (2) the (3) fatal (4,5) loins (6) From (1) forth (2) the (3) fatal (4,5) loins (6) of (7) these (8) two (9) foes (10)of (7) these (8) two (9) foes (10)

• That’s your challenge.That’s your challenge.

• But there’s more.But there’s more.