Techniques in Reading Poetry

Literature a) Preview the poem

b) Read the poem ALOUD several times
➢ body of written works c) Visualize the image
>convey’s the writer’s thoughts and d) Clarify the words and phrase
feelings e) Evaluate the poem’s theme
➢ littera, Latin for “letter of the alphabet” 2. Short Stories
➢ reflection of life ➢ short prose fictional works
>mirrors society ➢ concise narration and lacks character
➢ form of entertainment development
➢ medium of reform ➢ 2,000-10,000 words
Written Works Elements
 Drama A. Plot
 Novels I. Exposition
 Poetry -Introduction
 Nonfictional II. Opening Incident
Oral -conflict
 Spoken Language III. Rising Action
-conflict develops; leads to climax
Importance of Reading Literacy Works IV. Climax
 Acquire knowledge and information -peak
 Moral values V. Falling Action
 Appeals the senses B. Character
C. Settings
Classification of Literature I. Time
II. Place
Fiction III. Environment
➢ imaginative D. Conflict
➢ has 2 forms -struggle between 2 or more people or things
• Realistic I. Internal
 observable -personal struggle
 true-to-life II. External
• Non-realistic -conflict between 2 or more people or
 fantasy groups
➢ divided into 2 categories E. Theme
>Novel and Short Stories -main idea
3. Drama
1. Poetry ➢ written to perform, not read
➢ conveys vivid and imaginative sense of ➢ composition in prose or poetry
experience ◦ to tell a story
➢ employs specific technical devices: ➢ portrays one charcterisrics peculiar to itself
◦ rhyme, meter, metaphor... • Actor
◦ provides easy to read flow, synchronized • Stage
expression, and necessary meaning • Audience

Elements Elements
• Meter A. Plot
• Rhyme -summary or overall structure of the play
• Scheme -most important element
• Verse >helps explain what happens in the story
• Stanza or why a certain character acts the way he
does
B. Character
-actor’s role in the story
I. Protagonist
-main character
 II. Antagonist Figures of Speech
-villain ➢ phrase that has an implied meaning; should
-gives strugge to the protagonist not be taken at face value
C. Thought >real meaning of a phrase differs from
-ideas and elements implied by the overall literal meaning
meaning of the play, sometimes theme
D. Language/Dialogue
-conversation between 2 or more charcters
1. Personification
-dramatic dialogue
➢ attributes human qualties to an object
I. Prose
-naturalistic or rhetorical
2. Metaphor
-natural way people talk ➢ implies comparison between 2 things that
II. Verse has something in common
-convention of poetry 3. Simile
E. Theme ➢ compares 2 things that are different from
-what the story means each other but have similar qualities
F. Climax/Denouement ➢ “as” or “like”
-fruit of accumulated suspense ad that stirs the 4. Alliteration
most intense feelings or emotions ➢ series of words that have the same
-Denouement consonant sound at the beginning
>working out of the plot, following 5. Onomatopeia
climax ➢ imitation of sound with action
G. Music and Spectacle 6. Hyperbole
-music of speech and movement ➢ exaggeration
H. Costumes and Make-up >emphasis or heightens the effects of
I. Scenery and Lighting something
-setting 7. Apostrophe
➢ addresses an object or a subject that is not
Classification of Drama present at the moment
A. Comedies >absent or inanimate
-intent to make audience laugh 8. Oxymoron
B. Tragedy ➢ links 2 opposing words at the same time
C. Farce 9. Assonance
-highly exaggerated ➢ Series of words that hav the same internal
D. Melodrama vowels
-meant to appeal the audience emotions 10. Irony
>passionate and sensational ➢ Sarcasm
E. Musical ➢ conveys the opposite of their literal
meaning
Techniques in Reading Drama
a) Read the drama silently
b) Figure out what is happening
c) Read the stage directions
d) Get to know the characters
e) Keep track of the plot
f) Read the drama aloud with others