Philippine Literature

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Elements and Imagery in Poetry

Poetry

Poetry is “a way of feeling life,” according to Daisy Zamora, a Nicaraguan

poet. Her statement helps answer how does poetry help us “feel” life”. Poetry
captures intense experiences of creative perceptions of the world in a
musical language. If prose is just like talking, poetry is like singing.
If you want to understand poetry, you must understand its basic elements. In
this lesson, you will encounter the basic elements of poetry that are very
necessary in analyzing the poems you read and hear – and to “feeling life” in
them.
Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Read a poem using active reading strategies; and
2. Analyze a poem using the basic elements.

Poetry
Poetry is defined in many ways. Some definitions by famous writers are
presented below.
Poetry is…
“Word music, the dance of language” … A.D. Hope
“Criticism of life” …Matthew Arnold
“The spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” …William Wordsworth
“Poetry is the lava of the imagination” … Lord Byron
“Blood, imagination and intellect running together” …W.B. Yeats

Basic Elements of Poetry

Poetry is defined in many ways but there is one thing in common in poetry
and that, it is a form of communication. For you to understand the poem, you
have to identify the idea or theme that the writer wants to deliver, his
purpose in writing the poem and identify techniques he used in his poem.

Speaker
Every poem has a speaker, or a voice that talks to the reader. In prose, the
narrator is the speaker but not necessarily the author. In poetry, the speaker
is not necessarily the poet. It can also be a fictional person, an animal or a
thing.

Course Module
Model:
I once had a dear ring
speaker is a child
With a precious stone rare,
It was given to me
By my mother so dear;
From “My Lost Ring” by Emilia S. Reysio Cruz

The “What” of a Poem:

This includes the subject matter and theme or the central idea of the work.
Examples:
love, death, time, social satire, humanism etc.
The “ How” of the Poem (Techniques):
Structure : Number of stanzas , Shapes and Lines
Sound Devices: Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Assonance and Consonance
Meaning Devices : Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole, Imagery,
Symbol
Linguistic Devices : Inversion and Parallelism
Sound Devices -Feelings and moods are created by sounds.

Alliteration -Repetition of initial consonant sounds in words.

Examples:
Around the rugged rock, the ragged rascal ran
“Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers.”
The stream, the stream, the purring stream,
From “Canto 1, verse 9” by Serafin Lanot

Onomatopoeia -Use of words that sound like the objects or actions they
describe
Examples:
Glass breaking
I flung out my arms
Clatter
Clash
Crinkle
Crunch
Now a broom
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Elements and Imagery in Poetry

Swish
Swoosh
Sweep
Swoop

Bang, went the gun!

Swoosh went the basketball through the hoop.

Assonance -repetition of vowel sounds.

Examples:
I rose and told him of my woe
Day wane away

Is it the amorous secret of the trees?

From “Sonnet to a Gardene5r: II” by Trinidad Tarrosa-Subido

Consonance -repetition of consonant sounds anywhere in the lines

Examples:
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
(Robert Frost)

Rhyme
Rhyme is the repetition of the same stressed vowel sound and any
succeeding sounds in two or more words.
Internal rhyme occurs within a line in poetry.
End rhyme occurs at the ends of lines.
Rhyme scheme, the pattern of the end rhymes, may be designated by
assigning a different letter of the alphabet to each new rhyme.
Model : Rhyme scheme
Resi: have I loved thee well? - - - - -a
After the years, what hath to tell?- - -a
Course Module
 Hath he that husbanded thee - - - - -b
Loved true, loved well? Or hath he- - b
From the poem “To Resi” by Jose Garcia Villa

Rhythm and Meter

Rhythm is the pattern of sound created by the arrangement of stressed and
unstressed syllables in a line. Rhythm can be regular or irregular. Meter is a
regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, which set the overall
rhythm of certain poems. Typically, stressed syllables are marked with (‘)
and unstressed syllables (˘).
Model :
, , , , , ,
Butterflies so bright, flying to and fro,
From “The Butterfly” courtesy of Emilia S. Reysio-Cruz
Examples:
For example, read the following lines out loud. The pattern is shown under
the words.
When I was in Love with you
Then I was clean and brave.
'- '- '- '- The pattern is stressed ( ' ) , unstressed ( - )
- '- '- ' The pattern is unstressed, stressed

Form
Form includes lines (verses), stanzas, and shape. Writers create stanzas for a
reason.

Lines and Stanzas

A line is a word or row of words that may or may not form a complete
sentence. A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit. The stanzas in a poem
are separated by a space.

Model :
Innkeeper fare! – line
Innkeeper fare! ]
For you I care; ] - stanza
I’ll die for you, ]
My love is true. ]
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Elements and Imagery in Poetry

From “Inkeeper Fair” translated by Fernando ma. Guerrero

Couplet
A pair of rhyming lines in a poem often set off from the rest of the poem.
Shakespeare’s sonnets all end in couplets.
Examples:
The flowers are gay
Along the highway

Quatrain
A four line stanza
Example:
Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.

Types of Poem (Traditional Classification)

• Ballad - A narrative poem written in four-line stanza.
• Ode - A long stately form written in various stanzas.
• Sonnet - Sonnet is a lyric poem of 14 lines.
• Blank verse - An unrhymed ten-syllable poem.
• Free verse - A poem with no regular pattern or meter or rhyme.
• Limerick - A five-line rhymed poem that makes fun.
• Elegy - A poem expressing grief, of subjective, meditative nature.
• Epic - A long narrative poem that narrates the life and adventures of a
hero.
• Song - A lyric poem that expresses deep thoughts, feelings and
emotions

Types of Poem (Modern Classification)

Acrostic poem
A poem in which the first letter of each line, when read vertically, spell out a
word, which is usually the subject of the poem.
Shape poem
Words are placed to make the shape of an object or ideas described
Course Module
Diamond poem
A seven-lined diamond-shaped poem that specifies the part of speech in each
line, sometimes with contrasting ideas
Haiku
A Japanese-style poem of three lines, each with a fixed number of syllables
(5,7,5 or 4,8,4) -- mainly about nature and feelings

Meaning Devices
Imagery
Imagery is the use of description that helps the reader imagine how
something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or taste. Most of the time, it refers to
appearance.
Examples:
“The young bird’s white, feathered wings flutter as he made his way across
the nighttime sky.”
From Alfred Lord Tennyson “Break Break Break”

And the stately ships go on

To their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanish'd hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!

Candles, yellow and white, burning;

Incense-smoke heavenward ascending;
From “Procession” by Guillermo V. Sison

Figures of speech
Figures of speech include simile, metaphor, personification, and symbol that
are commonly used in poetry. They always have both a narrow, literal
meaning and a broader, figurative meaning. When used, they ask the reader
to think about the words being used in at least two ways.

Simile
Explicit comparison, using ‘like’, ‘as’, ‘similar to’, ‘resembles’
Examples;
My shirtsleeve hangs
Over the rim of the laundry basket
Like a limp human arm
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Elements and Imagery in Poetry

From the jaws of a crocodile. Chris Hereward

She is busy as a bee.

Metaphor
Implied comparison
Examples:
The sea is a hungry dog,
Giant and grey.
His face is a star to me.

Personification
Giving human qualities to an animal, object or abstract idea
Examples:
The wind whispers softly to my ears.
The tree sways on top of the hill.

Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a huge exaggeration.
Examples:
“Dan’s the funniest guy on the planet!”
“That baseball card is worth a zillion dollars!”

Symbol
Symbolism is the use of one thing to represent another.
Examples:
a dove is a symbol of peace
a mountain is a symbol of success

Linguistic Devices
Two Linguistic Devices
1. Inversion
It is the reordering (inverting) of the usual word order of a sentence,
often by placing the subject after the verb as in the lines.
Course Module
 Example:
Emily Dickinson from "I never Saw a Moor"
I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.
Heavenly Hurt, it gives us -

2. Parallelism
It is a general term that includes a number of specific devices all of which are
rooted in having different parts of a sentence or corresponding parts in two
sentences mirror each other in structure. Parallelism is a frequent device in
prose as well as poetry.
Lord Byron's "She Walks in Beauty" ends with a sentence that has several
examples of parallel structure:
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

***Open the link below and read to answer the activity.

“Air Castle by Juan F. Salazar”
http://wsosapercu.blogspot.com/2010/08/air-castles-by-juan-salazar.html

References
Alcantara, R. (2000). World literature: An adventure in human
experience.(QuezonCity: Katha Publishing Co. Inc.
Bascara, L. R. (2003). World Literature: A tertiary textbook for literature
under the new curriculum. Manila: Rex Bookstore.
Castillo, T.T and Medina B.S. (1974). Philippine literature from ancient to
present. Quezon City : Philippine Graphic Arts Inc.
CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. Panitikan Series.
Chin, B. (2002). Glencoe Literature: the reader’s choice. New
York:Glencoe/MacGrawhill.
Croghan, R.V.S.J. (1997). The development of Philippine literature in English.
Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House Inc.
 Philippine Literature
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Elements and Imagery in Poetry

Elements of an essay. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from

www.blugrass./ccts.edu/L/ElementsandStructure
Gordon, J.B.(1999).Fiction:an introduction to the short story.Illinois:NTC
Contemporary Publishing Group.
Guiyab, R.G.(2005). Philippine literature: beyond forgetting. Makati City:
Grandwater Publication.
Important elements in essay format.Retrieved May 1, 2010 from
customessayblog.com/essay-writing/essay-format..
Kahayon, A.H. (2000). Philippine literature: Through the years. Mandaluyong
City: National Bookstore.
Lacia, F.C.(2003).the literatures of the Philippines. Manila:Rex Bookstore.
Lombardi, E. Literature. Retrieved May 28, 2010 from classiclit.about.com
Lumbera, B. and Lumbera, C. (1982).Philippine literature: A story and
anthology. Manila: National Bookstore.
Merchand, M.Elements of the short story. Retrieved May 8, 2010 from
www.lessonplanpage.com.
Myers-Shaffer.C.(2000). The principles of literature: A guide for readers and
writers. New York: Barron’s Educational Series.
Marquez, S.T. (2009). Developmental Reading: Reading 2. Quezon City:
Lorimar Publishing.
Oak, M. Importance of literature. Retrieved July 30, 2010 from
www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-literature.html.
Patron, I.(2002).Interactive reading – responding and writing about
Philippine literature.QuezonCity: Great Books Trading.
Roseburg, A.G. (1966) Pathways to Philippine literature in English. Quezon
City: Alemars-Phoenix Publishing House.
Sicat, T.M. and Rivera, N.V. eds (2004).Affirming the Filipino:A anthology of
Philippine literature. Quezon City: U.P. Department of
English and Comparative Literature.
Tan, A.B.(2001).Introduction to literature. 4th ed. Mandaluyong City:
Academic Publishing Corporation.
Today in literature. Retrieved June 10, 2010 from
http://www.todayinliterature.com
Villarin, A.S. (2008).Developmental reading.Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing.
Vinuya, R. V. (2005).College reading and writing:textbook and workbook
rev.ed. Makati City: Grandwater Publication.

Course Module
 Imagery
Imagery is an element that poet uses in his poems. If music is the life-blood of
poetry, images provide poetry its soul. (Gardiner, 2005). Imagery that comes
along with simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole and etc. are meaning
devices. They make the poem alive. Imagery when used in poems creates
dreams and imaginations in the reader. As poet, William Greenway, said
“images can communicate the unspeakable, so show don’t tell.” (Greenway as
cited by Gardiner, in this lesson, you encounter imagery as a literary element
in poetry that helps you interpret the message conveyed by the poet in his
poem.
Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Explain imagery as “word pictures”;
2. Identify the images used in a poem;
3. Analyze the selected poem for this lesson.

Imagery
Imagery refers to the “word pictures” that writers use to recreate vivid
experiences and evoke an emotional response in readers. In creating
effective imagery, writers use descriptions that appeal to the senses – sight,
sound, touch, taste or smell.
Examples of imagery include the following: old black Joe, blown withered
leaves, sun-soaked beach, silver lining curtains, rusty vintage car.
Imagery as an experience through sense experience is classified as:

Olfactory imagery.
Use to stimulate the sense of smell.
Examples:
The girl gets home so fragrant and hopeful
Along the way are smells of green papayas

Tactile imagery.
Use to stimulate the sense of touch.
Examples:
So gentle touch he feels the hands of time
Her lips are soft as snow.

Visual imagery.
Use to stimulate the sense of sight.
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Elements and Imagery in Poetry

Examples:
Her dress is long and myrtle
Her hands are stretched and gentle

Auditory imagery.
Use to stimulate the sense of hearing.
Examples:
The mower hizzing on the ground
Roaring thunder scares the child

Gustatory imagery.
Use to stimulate the sense of taste.
Examples:
Candies craved the child
Her sweat is bitter like salt

Use imagery to communicate deep meaning, and to evoke an emotional

response.

***Open the link below and read to answer the activity.

“A Man from the Slums Contemplates His Church by Danton Remoto”
http://docslide.us/documents/philippine-poems.html

References
Alcantara, R. (2000). World literature: An adventure in human
experience.(QuezonCity: Katha Publishing Co. Inc.
Bascara, L. R. (2003). World Literature: A tertiary textbook for literature
under the new curriculum. Manila: Rex Bookstore.
Castillo, T.T and Medina B.S. (1974). Philippine literature from ancient to
present. Quezon City : Philippine Graphic Arts Inc.
CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. Panitikan Series.
Chin, B. (2002). Glencoe Literature: the reader’s choice. New
York:Glencoe/MacGrawhill.

Course Module
Croghan, R.V.S.J. (1997). The development of Philippine literature in English.
Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House Inc.
Elements of an essay. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from
www.blugrass./ccts.edu/L/ElementsandStructure
Gordon, J.B.(1999).Fiction:an introduction to the short story.Illinois:NTC
Contemporary Publishing Group.
Guiyab, R.G.(2005). Philippine literature: beyond forgetting. Makati City:
Grandwater Publication.
Important elements in essay format.Retrieved May 1, 2010 from
customessayblog.com/essay-writing/essay-format..
Kahayon, A.H. (2000). Philippine literature: Through the years. Mandaluyong
City: National Bookstore.
Lacia, F.C.(2003).the literatures of the Philippines. Manila:Rex Bookstore.
Lombardi, E. Literature. Retrieved May 28, 2010 from classiclit.about.com
Lumbera, B. and Lumbera, C. (1982).Philippine literature: A story and
anthology. Manila: National Bookstore.
Merchand, M.Elements of the short story. Retrieved May 8, 2010 from
www.lessonplanpage.com.
Myers-Shaffer.C.(2000). The principles of literature: A guide for readers and
writers. New York: Barron’s Educational Series.
Marquez, S.T. (2009). Developmental Reading: Reading 2. Quezon City:
Lorimar Publishing.
Oak, M. Importance of literature. Retrieved July 30, 2010 from
www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-literature.html.
Patron, I.(2002).Interactive reading – responding and writing about
Philippine literature.QuezonCity: Great Books Trading.
Roseburg, A.G. (1966) Pathways to Philippine literature in English. Quezon
City: Alemars-Phoenix Publishing House.
Sicat, T.M. and Rivera, N.V. eds (2004).Affirming the Filipino:A anthology of
Philippine literature. Quezon City: U.P. Department of
English and Comparative Literature.
Tan, A.B.(2001).Introduction to literature. 4th ed. Mandaluyong City:
Academic Publishing Corporation.
Today in literature. Retrieved June 10, 2010 from
http://www.todayinliterature.com
Villarin, A.S. (2008).Developmental reading.Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing.
Vinuya, R. V. (2005).College reading and writing:textbook and workbook
rev.ed. Makati City: Grandwater Publication.