INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

WHAT IS POETRY?

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

Parts of a

Poem

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

Title

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

Title

Poet

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

Title

Poet

Line

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

Title

Poet

Line

Stanza

About the Teeth of SharksThe thing about a shark is—teeth,One row above, one row beneath.

Now take a close look. Do you findIt has another row behind?

Still closer—here, I’ll hold your hat:Has it a third row behind that?

Now look in and...Look out! Oh my,I’ll never know now! Well, goodbye.

John Ciardi

Title

Poet

Line

Stanza

Speaker

WHAT IS POETRY?

Poetry is…1. A type of literature that expresses ideas,

feelings, or tells a story in a specific form2. Manages to say a lot with just a few carefully

chosen words3. Arouses our emotions4. Paints a picture in our minds5. Fun to read and think about!

SOME TYPES OF POEMS

Old Man with a Beard by Edward Lear

are…• Humorous / funny / nonsensical poems• Have only 5 lines that always have the same rhyme

and meter patterns

AABBA

• Follow a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA)

• The last line of a limerick is special because it contains the surprise / punchline that makes the limerick funny

The Old Pondby Matsuo Basho

An old silent pond...

A frog jumps into the pond,

splash! Silence again.

ふるいけやかわずとびこむみずのおと

A is…• A Japanese poem of 3

lines, 17 syllables

• 1st line: 5 syllables2nd line: 7 syllables3rd line: 5 syllables

• Traditionally brings to mind images of nature

5

7

5

An old silent pond...

A frog jumps into the pond,

splash! Silence again.

Concrete

Raindropby Heather Rivas

poems

are…

• Also known as shape poems

• The visual appearance of the poem matches the content / subject matter of the poem

Concretepoems

SUMMARY! What did I learn?• What are the main parts of a poem?

• What is so special about poetry?

• What are some types of poems?