Module 5: Poetry

The genre of poetry means different things to different people - even poets describe poetry in a variety of ways. In this module, you will study the characteristics of poetry, from the major forms and how these forms are structured, to the various patterns of rhyming. In addition, you will examine how poets utilize figurative language and sound devices to make their poems vivid and meaningful to the reader.

Your study of poetry would not be complete without the chance to compose some poetry yourself. You will have the opportunity to create your own poems using all of the elements that you explore. At the end of the module, you will continue your study of grammar by learning about predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives. Understanding this element of grammar will help improve your word choice when you write.

Getting Started

Throughout your academic studies, you have likely read many poems, and you have probably even written some yourself. Have you ever stopped to consider the art form of poetry itself, and what it means to you? In this interactivity, you will read eight statements about poetry and decide whether you agree or disagree with the statements. As you consider each statement, remember that there are no right or wrong answers. Click the player button to get started.

 

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

alliteration	lyric poetry	quatrain
allusion	metaphor	repetition
apostrophe	meter	rhyme
assonance	octet	rhythm
ballad	ode	sestet
consonance	onomatopoeia	simile
couplet	parallelism	sonnet
elegy	personification	stanza
epic	poetry	symbol
hyperbole	predicate adjective
imagery	predicate nominative