What's in a Poem

Directions: You may use your textbook to help you with this exercise, but the results will not be counted against you. See if you can tell which features go with modern poetry (generally) and which with older poems (generally). Check all that apply. Here's a thesis to guide your selections--

In modern poetry, form follows function. That is, poets shape poems to convey their meaning rather than choosing a pre-selected form. Older poems more often followed a set pattern of rhythm, rhyme, and structure.

Poetic Forms Comparison Chart
Closed-form poetry often uses-----	*Check all that apply to closed (left) and/or open poetry (right).*	Open-form poetry often uses-----
	rhyme
	line breaks for emphasis--instead of rhyme
	regular rhythm (e.g. "iambic pentameter")
	irregular rhythm (e.g. "sprung rhythm with extra syllables")
	sound repetition (e.g. "alliteration" & "assonance")
	set structure (e.g. "sonnet," "ballad," or "ode")
	imagery (e.g. "metaphors," "similes," & "personification")
	sensory description
	a speaker in a situation
	symbols, attitude (tone), theme, and values

Although experimentors with form have existed in every generation, older poetry often follows a set form, using rhyme, traditional rhythms, and sound repetitions like alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia. All poetry, however, has an attitude, values the human condition, expresses a central idea ("theme"), and may use symbols or sound repetition to call attention to thematically important words. Modern poets, although they may still use closed forms like sonnets, generally are more likely to let line breaks emphasize important words or create pauses and to vary rhythm in an effort to sound more like natural talking. All poetry uses imagery and sensory description to portray something about the human condition so vividly that we react to it emotionally (so the last four items in the chart above should be checked on both sides).