how to read a poem.docVIP

1. What is Poetry? It is difficult to define; we have been more successful at describing and appreciating poetry than at defining it. Easier - Poetry is a kind of writing, usually in verse. Poetry verse is set out in short lines with words put together in rhythm or rhyme or both. Poetry is about a writer sharing with the reader an experience or strong feelings. Poems are written with words chosen for their sounds and beauty as well as their meaning. Harder - Poetry is a type of literature in which the sound and meaning of language are combined to create ideas and feelings. People are often attracted to poetry by its sounds and rhythm patterns.? Poetry began in prehistoric times when people passed down their oral history in poetic language and song. Through the years, three main kinds of poetry have developed: lyric, narrative, and dramatic. Lyric poetry is any short poem. Narrative poems are ones that tell stories, an epic or ballad. Dramatic poetry also tells a story, but in this case one or more of the poems characters act out the story. William Wordsworth defined poetry as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings, recollected in tranquillity. Poetry is the most condensed and concentrated form of literature, saying most in the fewest number of words. 2. Reading the Poem: a. Read a poem more than once. b. Keep a dictionary by you and use it. c. Read so as to hear the sounds of the words in your mind. Poetry is written to be heard: its meanings are conveyed through sound as well as through print. Every word is therefore important. d. Always pay careful attention to what the poem is saying. e. Practice reading poems aloud. Ask yourself the following questions: i. Who is the speaker and what is the occasion? ii. What is the central purpose of the poem? iii. By what means is the purpose of the poem achieved? 3. Denotation and Connotation: The average word has three components parts: sound, denotation, and connotation. Denotation is the dictionary meaning(s) of