POEtry and figurative language Poems paint pictures In our minds

Main Idea

• When you first read a poem, you may not understand every word. Don’t worry! After you read it the first time, just ask yourself, “What is this mainly about?” That will help you understand the poem when you reread.

• What is this poem mainly about?

Lost I cannot find my basketball.

I cannot find my locker.

I cannot find my homework, Which is really quite a shocker.

I cannot find my lunchbox.

Worse, I cannot find my class.

I’m going to have a rotten day Until I find my glasses.

-Bruce Lansky

Rhyme

Rhyming words have the same end sound.

• Quick! Find some rhyming words!

I Should Have Studied I didn’t study for the test And now I’m feeling blue.

I copied off your paper And I flunked it just like you.

-Bruce Lansky Fill in the blanks with words that rhyme.

Blue ___________________ ___________________ ________________ Bear ___________________ ___________________ ________________ Could ___________________ ___________________ ________________

Repetition

Many poems repeat words, lines, or whole stanzas.

• Can you underline the repetition in this poem?

Boa Constrictor Oh, I’m being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don’t like it ----one bit.

Well, what do you know?

It’s nibbling my toe.

Oh, gee, It’s up to my knee.

Oh, my, It’s up to my thigh.

Oh, fiddle, It’s up to my middle.

Oh, heck, It’s up to my neck.

Oh, dread, It’s upmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmffffff… -Shel Silverstein

Simile

A simile compares things by saying one thing is like or as another thing.

• Hunt for similes in this poem.

The Star Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

-Ann and Jane Taylor Try more similes!

The ball is as red as ______________________.

This bed is as soft as _____________________.

My friend runs like _______________________.

Metaphor

A metaphor compares things by saying one thing really is another. • Read the poem and answer questions below.

Clouds White sheep, white sheep On a blue hill.

When the wind stops You all stand still.

1.

When the wind blows You walk away slow.

White sheep, white sheep Where do you go?

The “white sheep” are really a)trees. b) kites. c)clouds. d) sheep.

2.

What is the “blue hill?” a) the sky b) a meadow c) a flower d) a mountain 3.

When the poet says, “You walk away slow,” she means that a) the sun is crossing the sky. b) the sheep are looking for grass. C) clouds are moving across the sky. D) flowers are blowing in the wind.

Alliteration

Words that have the same beginning sound show alliteration. • Be an “Alliteration Detective! Circle the beginning sounds that are the SAME on each line of this silly poem.

Don’t Bring Camels in the Classroom Don’t bring camels in the classroom.

Don’t bring scorpions to school.

Don’t bring rhinos, rats or reindeer.

Don’t bring mice or moose or mule.

Lose your leopard and your lemur.

Leave your llama and your leech.

Take your tiger, toad and toucan Anywhere but where they teach.

- Kenn Nesbitt

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia means words that sound like what the word represents.

•

Can you make the sound of … A bell? ________ A cat? _______ A jet? ______ A potato chip? ________ A firecracker? _______

Underline the onomatopoeia in this poem.

What if….

You opened a book about dinosaurs and one stumbled out And another and another and more and more pour Until the whole place is bumbling and rumbling And groaning and moaning And snoring and roaring And dinosauring? -Isabel Joshlin Glaser

Personification

Personification means making animals and objects act like people. • Find and circle 5 examples of personification in this poem. Mister Sun Mister Sun Wakes up at dawn, Puts his golden Slippers on, Climbs the summer Sky at noon, Trading places With the moon.

Mister Sun Runs away With the blue tag End of day, Switching off the Globe lamplight, Pulling down the Shades at night.

-J. Patrick Lewis

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is exaggeration, meaning stretching the truth.

• Shel Silverstein loves to exaggerate in his poems. Hunt for hyperbole in this funny poem.

Spaghetti Spaghetti, spaghetti, all over the place, Up to my elbows – up to my face, Over the carpet and under the chairs, Into the hammock and wound round the stairs, Filling the bathtub and covering the desk, Making the sofa a mad mushy mess.

And remember…

When reading a poem for the first time Don’t worry.

Hunt for figurative language Don’t hurry.

Find rhyme, repetition, metaphor, simile, Alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, hyperbole And you will answer all questions Most EXPERTLY.