Tone

Definition: the way, emotions, and attitude in which the poem is expressed by the speaker

Example: in the poem below the tone is very sad and depressing.

 

Feeling tired
Feeling weak
With all the pain you do not seek

Feeling scared and unprepared
Are feelings that we all share

In whatever you decide
We will be by your side

We all hold hands with each other
With love and hope for you my broth

 

Explanation: Tones are important to poetry because it tells the reader how the speaker is feeling. Also, tones add some feeling to the poem. So, the reader can sometimes relate to the emotions the speaker is experiencing.

 

 

Metaphor

Definition: a type of figurative language in which you compare two things

Example: The fog comes in on little cat feet.
                It sits looking over the harbor and city
               on silent haunches
               and then, moves on. - 'Fog' - Carl Sandburg.
           
 In this extended metaphor the fog is being compared to a cat.

Explanation: Metaphors are important to poetry because they can add pizzazz to your work. Instead of being too literal with the meaning, you can compare it to something else. It gets the reader more involved in the writing when they have to interpret what the meaning is.

Speaker

Definition: The speaker is the person conveying the message of the poem. It can be the poet or an imaginary character in the poem.

Example: Come,
                 Let us roam the night together
                Singing.
       
 In this stanza the speaker is the character roaming through the night, not the author.

Explanation: Speakers are important because they can show some emotions or thoughts that a character is experiencing. Speakers tell the reader that this may not be from the poet's point of view, but from someone else's experience. Also, speakers make poetry better because they can either make the poem very interesting or boring.

Symbol

Definition: an object that has a deeper meaning than its literal one

Example: a dove can be a symbol of peace

Explanantion: Symbols are important to poetry because they can make your poems more interesting. Instead of being too straight forward, the reader can interpret the poem in their own way. So, the reader would be more fascinated with the poem. Also, it can define an object or idea with more depth.

Couplet

Definition: a two lined stanza that rhymes

Example:

Ideas with nowhere to hide
An eureka moment inside

Explanation: Couplets are important because they can organize your writing, just like stanzas. Also, the rhyming can entertain the reader. It makes your poetry better because it can make your poems unique with the your choice of the rhyming words.

Stanza

Definition: a group of lines in a poem: it's like a paragraph

Example:  (this poem has 2 stanzas)

Down to the beach
Down to the beach
On a sunny day we go

Beach bags packed with sun screen lotions
Hands rubbing people’s backs in slow motion
Glistening oily bodies radiating with sensation
Explanation: Stanzas are important because they can organize your thoughts into a format that is easy to read.  It makes poetry better, so that all your emotions and feelings aren't jumbled up into random sentences. It makes your poem very neat and well written.


      

Poetry

Definition: Poetry is a way of expressing your feelings and emotions through written art. It usually contains  figurative language and rhyming.

Example: Rays of the sun creep

                 East it peaks and west it sleeps

                 Through the world it leaps

Significance: You would use this term in your studies to convey messages through your feelings in literature. You would use poetry in your studies by observing what the speaker is trynig to tell you. Poetry is important to language arts because it allows you to anaylze what the speaker is saying through figurative language. Also, it's a good way of venting your emoitions.