LESSON FOUR: Figurative language in poetry and prose
Using graphic organizers, students evaluate the author’s use of figurative language and sound devices in poems and a short story and its overall effect.
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS
R2B Analyze and evaluate author’s use of figurative language (emphasize irony), imagery, and sound devices in poetry and prose.
LESSON MATERIALS
§ Sources of Literature
o None
§ Supplies
o Overhead and transparencies
o Course textbook, a writing handbook, or website of Standard English Language rules.
§ Handouts provided
o “Cinderella” by Anne Sexton. http://www.plagiarist.com/poetry/?wid=564
o “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)”
o “One Perfect Rose” by Dorothy Parker. http://plagiarist.com/poetry/
o “The Fall of the House of Usher”
o “Neither Snow” by Billy Collins. http://plagiarist.com/poetry/807/
o Figurative Language (Overhead/Student copies)
o Figurative Language in Song Titles (Overhead/Student copies)
o Figurative Language in Song Titles Answer Key (Overhead)
o “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allen Poe, Possible answers to T-chart
o Formative Assessment “Neither Snow” by Billy Collins
o Formative Assessment Possible Answers/Scoring Guide for “Neither Snow” by Billy Collins
§ Words to know
o figurative language
o graphic organizer
o hyperbole
o simile
o metaphor
o imagery
o personification
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Students analyze how figurative language contributes to the effect of poetry. Students independently complete handout “Neither Snow” by Billy Collins. Formative Assessment Possible Answering/Scoring Guide for “Neither Snow” provided.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Student pairs define a set of figurative language terms displayed on an overhead, Figurative Language and Sound Devices. Students use literature text, dictionary, or Internet to find definitions.
2. Focusing on figurative language, student pairs determine which of 15 different figurative language terms a list of song titles represent. Hand out and display overhead of Figurative Language in Song Titles.
Discuss the answers. See Answer Key, Figurative Language in Song Titles. Emphasize the six terms new to this lesson: hyperbole, simile, metaphor, imagery, personification, and oxymoron. Students use copies of “Cinderella,” “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why),” “One Perfect Rose,” and “The Fall of the House of
Usher” for examples in the discussion of these items.
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Questions for Students |
What is hyperbole? Look at “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)” and find examples of hyperbole What effect do these have on the poem? Explain the difference between similes and metaphors. In “Cinderella” find a simile and a metaphor. What effect do these have on the poem? Define imagery. Find an example of imagery. How does this contribute to the overall effect of the story? What is personification? In “One Perfect Rose,” what is an example of personification? How does this enhance the overall effect of the poem? Explain oxymoron. Poe uses oxymorons in “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Find an example and tell how it contributes to the overall effect of the story (sad jest, sickly smile, strange fancy, morbid acuteness, sternly beautiful)
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4. While constructing a T-chart for “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe, students find examples for each of the following figurative language terms: hyperbole, imagery, metaphor, personification, and simile.
Discuss each figurative language’s contribution to the overall effect of the story.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe
Figurative Language __________________________Example
Hyberbole
Imagery
Metaphor
Personification
Simile
5. Discuss the examples. See possible answers to “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe T-Chart.
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Questions for Students |
How do each of these examples of figurative language enhance the story’s overall effect? Did Poe consciously craft these figurative language devices? Why or why not? |