Ms. Cavanaugh's Enrichment Classes
We studied the art of poetry. We learned that there are a variety of poetic devices and forms.
Here are some of the types:
COUPLETS
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Couplets are two-lined poems with a fun and simple rhyming pattern. Each line has the same meter and their endings rhyme with one another. Humor is often used in couplets.
QUATRAINS
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This type of poetry always has four lines and rhymes in one of four ways. Poets use letters to show the pattern of rhyme. The four types of rhyme for a quatrain are: AABB, ABAB, ABBA, and ABCB.
ACROSTICS
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An acrostic poem is one in which the name of a person, place or thing is written in a vertical (up-and-down) line. The poem is developed from the beginning letter on each line.
HAIKU
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Haiku is a Japanese poem with no rhyme. Haiku poems have only three lines, each with a certain number of syllables. Here is the pattern:
line 1 = syllables
line 2 = 7 syllables
line 3 = 5 syllables
LANTERN POEMS
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Lantern poems are written in the shape of Japanese lanterns. Their shape is formed by using five lines, each with a different number of syllables. The number of syllables for each line are:
line 1 = 1 syllable
line 2 = 2 syllables
line 3 = 3 syllables
line 4 = 4 syllables
line 5 = 1 syllable
TANKA
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Tanka is another form of Japanese poetry that depends on the number of lines and syllables instead of rhyme. This is the pattern:
line 1 = 5 syllables
line 2 = 7 syllables
line 3 = 5 syllables
line 4 = 7 syllables
line 5 = 7 syllables
CINQUAINS
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Cinquain is a form of poetry that has a total of five lines. The lines depend on parts of speech and syllables rather than rhyme. The pattern for a cinquain is:
line 1 = One noun of 2 syllables
line 2 = Adjectives with a total of 4 syllables that describe the noun
line 3 = Words showing action and having a total of 6 syllables (-ing words work well)
line 4 = Words with a total of 8 syllables that tell how you feel about the noun
line 5 = Another noun of 2 syllables that makes you think of the first noun
DIAMONTES
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Diamonte poems are diamond-shaped poems that are written using parts of speech. They are fun because the top half of the diamond is very different from the bottom half. The poem has seven lines in all. Here is the pattern for a diamonte:
line 1 = One noun (#1)
line 2 = Two adjectives describing noun #1
line 3 = Three participles that end in -ing and tell about noun #1
line 4 = Four more nouns: the first two are related to noun #1 and the second two are related to noun #2
line 5 = Three participles that end in -ing and tell about noun #2
line 6 = Two adjectives that describe noun #2
line 7 = One noun (#2)
LIMERICKS
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A limerick is a whimsical poem with only five lines. This type of poem depends on rhythm and rhyme. Lines one, two and five rhyme with each other. Lines three and four rhyme with each other. (AABBA)
SONNETS
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A sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines. It begins with three quatrains and ends with one couplet.
We hope that you enjoy reading our poems.
Ms. Cavanaugh