Poetry UnitCinquains

The Cinquain Poem

• A 5-line poem following a pattern.• Based loosely on the Japanese Haiku.• They DO NOT have rhyming words in them.• The cinquain poem is all about description.• Cinquains do not have titles.

However, the first line serves as the subject.

What is the Structure?

Line 1: A one-word line. It should be a noun. This is your subject. (1)

Line 2: Two adjectives about the subject. (2)Line 3: Three verbs that end in –ing that are

about the subject. (3)Line 4: Four or five words that express your

feelings about the subject or a phrase about the subject. (4-5)

Line 5: One word synonym about the subject. (1)

Ocean Smooth, vigorous

Swooshing, splashing, curvingGliding and moving across the beach

H2O

ApplesHearty, healthyGrowing, falling, rollingRipening slowing on fruit treesTreats

SpiderCreepy, hairy

Crawling, climbing, spinningWeaving a deadly tangled web

Black Widow

TreeSturdy, tall

Climbing, swinging, playingFun among the branches

Oak

CoffeeFreshly grounded

Beans from ColumbiaCaramel or vanilla latte

Java

TigerStriped, ferocious

Leaping, snarling, pouncingAttacking and scaring its prey

Grrrrrr!

Footwear Durable, cheap

Flipping, flopping, squeakingThey get me from here to there

Sandals

What is the Structure?

Line 1: A one-word line. It should be a noun. This is your subject. (1)

Line 2: Two adjectives about the subject. (2)Line 3: Three verbs that end in –ing that are

about the subject. (3)Line 4: Four or five words that express your

feelings about the subject or a phrase about the subject. (4-5)

Line 5: One word synonym about the subject. (1)

Parts of Speech Review• Noun person, place, thing or idea.– Mrs. Morton (person)– School (place)– Ice cream (thing)– Happiness (idea)

• Verb shows action– Fly, jump, skip, whisper– Laugh, dance, write, etc.

Parts of Speech Review• Adjective describes a noun or

pronoun– Colors, speed, size, sound, etc.

• Adverb describes or modifies and action

• Synonym a word having the same meaning (or almost the same) as another word– Happy, glad ― Movie, film– Dessert, cake ― Candy, chocolate

Assignment #1• Write a cinquain poem about your:– Favorite sport– Family pet– Favorite season, e.g., summer– Favorite hobby or– Favorite activity, e.g., dancing

What is the Structure?

Line 1: A one-word line. It should be a noun. This is your subject. (1)

Line 2: Two adjectives about the subject. (2)Line 3: Three verbs that end in –ing that are

about the subject. (3)Line 4: Four or five words that express your

feelings about the subject or a phrase about the subject. (4-5)

Line 5: One word synonym about the subject. (1)

What is the Structure?

Line 1: A one-word line. It should be a noun. This is your subject. (1)

Line 2: Two adjectives about the subject. (2)Line 3: Three verbs that end in –ing that are

about the subject. (3)Line 4: Four or five words that express your

feelings about the subject or a phrase about the subject. (4-5)

Line 5: One word synonym about the subject. (1)