Teachers - Poetry For Children - Characteristics and Examples

I think that 1 of the most crucial ideas about poetry is that, "Like a song, poetry is meant to be heard" (Larrick, 1987, p. 20). Although excellent prose can either be study aloud or silently, poetry almost often wants to be study aloud. That poetry desires to be heard can be attributed to the traits of poetry that distinguish poetry from prose, I.e., rhythm, sound patterns, figurativeness, compactness, and emotional intensity (Lukens, 1990). I'll discover each and every of these in far more depth, under:

An instance that I normally use Whilst I am 1st teaching the attribute of rhythm to students is Carl Sandburg's poem, "Was Ever a Dream A Drum?" [Be positive to study this aloud!]

Was ever a dream a drum

or a drum a dream?

Can a drummer drum a dream

or a dreamer dream a drum?

The drum in a dream

pounds loud to the dreamer.

Now the moon tonight over Indiana

is a fire-drum of a phantom dreamer.

Carl Sandburg in Hopkins, 1982

Whilst reading it aloud, I bang on a desk or the book or my lap to make the sound of a drum beat that goes along with what I am reading. Then I study it once again, only this time, the students pound out the rhythm on their personal laps or desks.

"Was Ever a Dream a Drum" as well can be applied to demonstrate how poetry makes use of sound patterns, that is, words as sound. On the other hand, my favored poem to use is "The Man in the Marmalade Hat Arrives," from the Newbery Award-winning book by Nancy Willard, A Take a look at to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Seasoned Travelers. Just the very first stanza (study aloud, of course) offers you an idea of how Willard made use of sound patterns in this poem:

The man in the marmalade hat

arrived in the middle of March,

equipped with a bottle of starch

to straighten the bends in the road, he mentioned.

He carried a bucket and mop.

A most incommodious load, he stated,

and he asked for a area at the major.

Young children ask to hear that poem over and over--so that they can play with the language of the poem. Just savor saying "a most incommodious load" quite a few instances--and you, also, will be hooked!

A third characteristic of poetry is the author's use of words as which means, I.e., figurativeness. Worth's All the Compact Poems book is filled with examples you can use for this characteristic. A excellent specimen is her poem entitled "Security Pin." [You might want to have a Security pin to appear at Though you study and appreciate this poem!]

Closed, it sleeps

On its side

Quietly,

The silver

Image

Of some

Modest fish;

Opened, it snaps

Its tail out

Like a thin

Shrimp, and appears

At the sharp

Point with a

Shocked eye.

So a lot image... so couple of words!

... Which leads to the subsequent characteristic that Young children want to know about poetry--its compactness. I as soon as heard Virginia Hamilton, the author of young adult novels, exchanging views with her husband, poet Arnold Adoff, about which a single of them had to function tougher. The concern was regardless of whether it was extra challenging to say what you want to say in 15,000 words... or in 15 words. The situation was not resolved, and almost certainly in no way will be, but students can find out to get pleasure from the care with which a poet's words are selected. Lukens (1990) says,

The principal distinction among prose and poetry is compactness. 1 word in poetry says far a lot more than one word in prose; the connotations and photos hint at, imply, and recommend other meanings. (p. 187).

Due to the fact poetry is so parsimonious with its words, every 1 carries a excellent deal of weight. With no pun intended, appear at (and study aloud) portion of the poem "ELEPHANT" by Barbara Juster Esbensen:

The word is also heavy

to lift...

ELEPHANT

He ought to have invented it

himself. This is a lumbering

gray word the ears of it

are big and flap like loose

wings a word with

wrinkled knees and toes

like boxing gloves...

A poem that I constantly study to upper elementary and middle college students is from Arnold Adoff's book Sports Pages. It illustrates the final characteristic of poetry that I'll be discussing right here: emotional intensity. 1 poem in this book tells about a boy who twisted his knee in a football game. The subsequent poem starts this way:

My Knee Is Only Sprained,

is only swollen, and

the medical professional says I'll be

fine. I will play once more.

He says this as he

sits on his padded

leather chair that

can swivel 360 de

grees.

Oh

why can not knees?

When Youngsters know about these traits of poetry (I.e., rhythm, sound patterns, figurativeness, compactness, and emotional intensity), they will delight in the problem of getting poems that exemplify 1 or extra of the qualities. Their appreciation of poetry is enhanced by way of their a lot more understanding. They are prepared to encounter poetry additional totally.

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(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm). Via her business, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh modifications what individuals know, really feel, dream, and do. Sound fascinating? It is!