Introduction to Poetry and Figurative Language

 Today's Learning Objectives   To understand and appreciate poetry and understand the use of figurative language.

Introduction to Poetry Yesterday we learned that trying to define poetry is no easy task. You probably recognize poetry, when you see it, even if you can't really explain what poetry is. To understand a poem, you need to think about the way the words look on the page, the way the words sound together, and the images, or mental pictures, the create. 

Poet Billy Collins, in his aptly titled poem "Introduction to Poetry, cautions readers against trying to simply understand or "figure out" a poem's surface meaning, but rather encourages us as readers to go deep "inside a poem" and feel and experience it. Let's begin today by feeling and experiencing Billy Collins' poem below.   

Key Elements of Poetry: Figurative Language  To truly experience poetry as Billy Collins encourages us to do, we need to pay attention to the shapes, sounds, and the images in a poem. Furthermore, we need to understand and appreciate that poetry is composed of various elements, which include form, sound, imagery, and figurative language. 

Today we are going to focus on figurative language, with a special emphasis on similes and metaphors. Let's now read an excerpt from our textbook explaining what figurative language is and some of the various types below.

Next, let's more closely examine metaphors and similes. How are they alike? How are the different? Watch the short video below. 

1. Locate your Apps in Google Drive

BrainPop Activities: Similes and Metaphors  Now we will continue to explore similes and metaphors with our friends Tim and Moby from BrainPop. First, open your Google Drive. Next, locate your Apps by clicking the group of small squares towards the top of your screen similar to the ones pictured to the side. Then, scroll down and find and click the BrainPop icon.

2. Find and open BrainPop.

3. Search for the 'Similes and Metaphors' Lesson.

Next, type in "Similes and Metaphors" into the search bar, click the lesson,

4. After the video, take the Classic Quiz. 

and the close your computer. I will show the video on the "Big Screen" first as a whole-class. Afterwards, each of your will be able to check your understanding by taking the "Classic Quiz." 

Independent Practice: Similes and Metaphors  Now that you have a better idea about what similes and metaphors are, let's practice constructing some of our own. In your Language Arts folders, you will find the assignment Similes and Metaphors - Independent Practice. Complete the similes and metaphors by adding your own words. What you do not finish in class becomes homework. 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry. (2.) Complete the assignment Similes and Metaphors - Independent Practice, which will be due on Friday, November 7.