Poetry

For all its lofty reputation, poetry is really just the art of noticing, naming, and comparing the stuff of this world. Unlike the eye of modern science, which sees the world as a giant specimen to be dissected, poetry fosters and nurtures by finding wonder in the nooks and crannies of ordinary life. In this imaginative introductory guide for junior high and high school students, the art of poetry becomes approachable and doable. Focusing on the importance of sight and the necessity of practice, this guide helps students discover the joy of words and see how good poetry can bind contradictory things together. Students will gain an understanding of the basics of writing poetry and an appreciation for the awesome world in which we live. 190 pages, softcover. Grades 7 and up.

Poetry, in many ways, defies definition. Poetry asks us to slow down, sit still, and think. Using three short poetry anthologies, this guide examines more than 40 poems and their forms and elements. As students read and study each poem, they will conduct research, complete timelines, and write couplets, haikus, limericks, parodies, sonnets, ballads, and free verse. A reading list is included that provides recommendations of additional poems by the authors that are studied. The format is ideal for homeschoolers: the large 8.5x11 printed workbook format is convenient to read, easy on the eyes, and easy to transport from car to home. Plus, every question has plenty of whitespace for student's answers, which encourages neat and clean handwriting practice. A removable answer key is also included for the teacher. Grades 8-12.

In this Intro to Poetry Progeny Press study guide students will learn about the following concepts:

• Types of poetry: Narrative poems, lyric poems, dramatic poems.
• Elements of poetry: Lines, stanzas, words, sounds, rhymes, slant rhymes, common meter, poetic feet, iambic tetrameter, iambic trimester, and analogies.
• Forms of poetry: sonnets, octaves, sestets, couplets, villanelles, blank verse, haikus, ballads, limericks, free verse, and more.
• Literary Techniques: denotation, connotation, diction, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, and more.
• Themes: praying, loving our neighbor, materialism, time, hypocrisy, grace, contentment, authority, and hope.

PLEASE NOTE: the poetry books 100 Best-Loved Poems, 101 Great American Poems, and Great Short Poems are required and must be purchased separately.