Lesson Created by Adrienne Lovejoy

Poetic Devices Lesson

Description:
This is an introductory lesson on poetic devices for a tenth grade poetry unit. The basic foundation of how
authors move audiences and develop themes is focused on in the following activity. Prior knowledge necessary
for this activity includes determining the subject, occasion, intended audience, inferences about the speaker,
tone, theme, and word connotations for a specific text, as well as knowledge of common types of figurative
language (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.) After this lesson, students move on to apply their new
knowledge and skills to an analysis of classic and contemporary poetry.
Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:
L. 9-10.5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word
meanings. (a) Interpret figures of speech in context and analyze their role in the text.
Goals:
As an introductory lesson for a unit on poetry, students will become familiarized with various types of poetic
devices and how they function in a text.
Objectives:
Students prior knowledge will be engaged through the use of current pop music lyrics to demonstrate
various types of figurative language in context.
Students will be able to explain how figurative and poetic language functions to develop the theme of
the song and move the audience emotionally.
Students will engage in collaborative learning and enhance collaborative learning skills.
Relevance to 21
st
Century Learning:
In future lessons and in real world contexts, students will be able to apply their knowledge of the role of
figurative language and how it functions to manipulate an audiences emotions and promote an authors
purpose in literature, poetry, prose, and rhetoric.
Formative Assessment Criteria for Success:
Student groups will be able to provide oral and written explanations that demonstrate a conceptual
understanding of how four literary devices in self-selected song lyrics function to develop the songs theme and
move the audience emotionally.
Activities/Tasks:
Day 1:
Teacher will show students the Prezi, Advanced Poetic Devices in 2013-2014 Billboard Music &
Grammys by Adrienne Lovejoy.
Lesson Created by Adrienne Lovejoy

Through direct instruction, students will take notes on the definitions of the following devices and how
they function in a text.
o Figurative language
o Antithesis
o Allusion
o Hyperbole
o Anaphora
o Paradox
o Alliteration
o Consonance
o Assonance
o Conceit
o Apostrophe
o Oxymoron

For each term, the teacher will play the first minute or two of a song and ask students to listen for the
device in the lyrics. Teacher will then show a section of the songs lyrics to the class and students will
discuss in pairs where the device is and how it could function in the song. Teacher will then call on pairs
to share with the class. A pair-share review of all the terms will take place at the end of the lesson.
o Because students will be familiar with these songs and lyrics, it is not necessary to play the
entire song or show the entire set of lyrics for each song.
o Teacher uses guided practice to help students develop the new skill
o During guided practice, teacher checks for understanding through listening to pairs discuss and
through class discussion.
Day 2
After students have been introduced to poetic devices and its functions, students will be asked to work
in groups to complete a full analysis of the lyrics of one of the songs played for them during notes.
Student groups must work together to determine:
o SOAPSTone (Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Speaker, Tone)
o Theme
o How four poetic devices function to develop the theme and/or appeal to the audience
Student groups will turn in a write up with the above information
Groups will orally present their analysis to the class
Differentiated Instruction:
Teacher preselects groups to create a balance of basic, proficient, and advanced level learners.
Students in each group are assigned roles based on their knowledge and understanding of figurative
language and poetic devices.
Lesson Created by Adrienne Lovejoy

o Struggling learners in each group will be given the role of researching lyrics on
http://www.rapgenius.com. They will then share findings with the group to assist the group in
developing SOAPStone response and theme statements.
o Advanced students can extend learning by visiting the website http://literarydevices.net and
browse through advanced forms of poetic and rhetorical strategies to find a new one not
discussed in class, but that is present in the groups song lyrics.
Resources/Materials:
Lovejoy, Adrienne. Advanced Poetic Devices in 2013-2014 Billboard Music & Grammys. Prezi.com.
Prezi Inc. 2014. Web. May 7, 2014.
Copies of song lyrics
Computers, Chrome Books, IPads, or netbooks