ACTIVITY:
Poetry Project
older readers
Poems come in various styles and don't even
have to rhyme! (What does rhyme with 'poem'..?)
Nursery Rhymes often have four lines to a
verse, with the 2nd and 4th lines rhyming, ('B').
This is an 'ABCB' format.
Single words might rhyme or be taken and
repeated. 'Repetition technique' can even
recycle a whole line and is often used to force
the reader to think, ask questions – or even
laugh!
Which daft limericks do you know? Their
'AABBA' format has you laughing from the start!
Punchlines often come in the 4th line, with the
5th line a rough copy of the 1st. Somehow this
repetition makes the limerick even funnier!
Creeping up on the reader with repetition and
a surprise twist can cause clever shocks in
serious poetry.
Develop your style! Choose your inspiration! For
centuries, poetry has been written both to share
happiness and to try to understand difficult
times. It can be great fun -and great therapy- to
let your feelings out in words. -Try it!
FUsEr POeM
FUSE reader Alex has sent in his emotionally
descriptive and powerful poem called 'War,
by William Beech’. It describes the feelings of
William, a young World War Two evacuee, and
was inspired by Goodnight Mr Tom, which Alex
read at school.
William seems to speak the words "I was just
a frightened child” about himself. However,
Fuser Alex interestingly took this quote from a
German Hitler Youth member. This really makes
you think; the two boys were 'on opposite sides'
but each was just a frightened child.
Alex uses a simple 'spoken word' style to bring
his story vibrantly alive. He mixes this with an
emotional quote, repetition technique and an
unexpected twist at the end. -Powerful!
Check out Librophilia! (p3) for more from Alex on Goodnight Mr Tom.
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FUSE