Poets compare a feeling or an object to something else

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by Urszula Konczewska2 views·Updated Apr 26, 2021
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  1. Hi writers today, we're going to learn another strategy that
  2. poets use when they write poetry.
  3. This is what we're going to learn.
  4. We're going to learn that.
  5. Poets compare, they compare a feeling or an object to
  6. something else.
  7. Do you remember at the very beginning of this unit
  8. we read the poem about pencil sharpener.
  9. But instead of talking about a pencil sharpener, the poet,
  10. she said there is thousands bees inside buzzing around.
  11. Remember that?
  12. Yes. So she was comparing that object to something else
  13. that it reminded her of.
  14. So this is an example of literary language which you
  15. also know as figurative language.
  16. We have talked about figurative language this whole year, so
  17. you should have no trouble recognizing it.
  18. So today you're going to create some of your own
  19. figurative language.
  20. And there's many different ways, many different examples of how
  21. figurative language is used.
  22. I'm going to show you two.
  23. Okay. And both of them have something to do with
  24. comparing an object or a feeling to something else.
  25. So here's one example of figurative language.
  26. It's called similarly, Alright, assembly is this Sometimes poets use
  27. a special type of image, image or a picture known
  28. as a similar a similar uses.
  29. The words like or as to compare two things.
  30. It tells the reader that one thing is like the
  31. other. Now look at this example.
  32. So what does this?
  33. Similarly from the poem Winter by Dorothy oldest compare.
  34. I'm going to read this out loud.
  35. I want you to uh huh, Pause and think what
  36. two things are being compared here.
  37. The streets, I'm sorry, the streetcars are like frosted cakes
  38. all covered up with cold snowflakes.
  39. The streetcars are like frosted cakes all covered up with
  40. cold snowflakes.
  41. Yes, the poet is comparing street cards two Frosted Cakes.
  42. So, a cake with white yummy, delicious frosting all covered
  43. up with cold snowflakes.
  44. So what I'm imagining, I'm imagining street cards covered with
  45. a nice layer of snow at the top.
  46. Mm And this author compare the street cards to frosted
  47. cakes. What else can you compare when you are writing
  48. your poems?
  49. So for example, I was thinking has a giant plant
  50. here. I'm gonna show you said this is a snake
  51. plant. So I would say the leaves as pointy as
  52. hedgehogs, what you call them?
  53. Spikes, needles.
  54. So yes, leaves as pointy as hedgehogs, needles.
  55. That's what I would compare it to.
  56. Or I could say a plan.
  57. The plant's leaves are like hedgehogs needles coming out ready
  58. to attack.
  59. So when you're using a similar, you're always using the
  60. word like or you're saying as so this is as
  61. cold as ice.
  62. She is as sweet as what is sweet popsicle or
  63. sugar. Uh he is as lovely as a cuddly bear.
  64. So you're using s or you can use like, okay,
  65. so similarly you got that, let's move on.
  66. The second kind of figurative language you will talk about
  67. today is metaphors.
  68. So when you're using metaphors, you're also comparing things.
  69. But instead of saying that one thing is like the
  70. other, you don't use the word like or as to
  71. compare Instead, poets say one thing is the other thing.
  72. So here's an example and I want you to think
  73. about what are the clouds called in Christina.
  74. Rosetti is poem clouds, white sheep, white sheep on a
  75. blue hill.
  76. When the wind stops, you all stand still.
  77. So what did the author compare the clouds too?
  78. Yeah, she compared them to white sheep, but she didn't
  79. say clouds are as white and fluffy as sheep.
  80. She just called them white sheep.
  81. She just said white sheep.
  82. White sheep.
  83. So when you are writing um again, I'm going to
  84. give you the same example my plan instead of saying
  85. um believes as spiky as hedgehogs, uh needles.
  86. I could forget that work.
  87. I could say a green hedgehog curled up in a
  88. pot. You see what I did there?
  89. I'm still talking about my plant, but I'm using a
  90. metaphor. I am calling my plant a green hedgehog.
  91. So I hope that you're going to have fun with
  92. this. Think about objects.
  93. Think about feelings that you want to describe in your
  94. poems today and then compare them to different things.
  95. You can use similes like or this is this is
  96. as happy as something.
  97. Or you can just call them a different thing.
  98. Something that it reminds you of.
  99. All right.
  100. And I know sometimes poetry can be a little bit
  101. challenging, but remember that once you pick a topic that
  102. you care about, you can write many many poems on
  103. the same topic.
  104. Okay? You don't have to keep looking for different topics.
  105. That means something to you.
  106. So if you really love writing about nature, just keep
  107. writing about nature to start using more of those strategies.
  108. If you love writing about your family, keep writing about
  109. your family.
  110. All right, Happy writing.