Chapter 8 – Poetry

1. Various definitions of poetry highlight a. The importance of an original combination of words. b. Distinctive sounds. c. Emotional impact. d. All of the above

2. Researchers who investigated children’s preferences in poetry concluded that a. Children enjoy poems about familiar experiences. b. Children enjoy complex imagery in poetry. c. Children prefer poems that include subtly implied emotion. d. All of the above. a. Poems should emphasize the sound of language and encourage play with words. b. Poems should have exciting meters and rhythms. c. Poems should be written down to a child’s level of understanding and readability. d. Poems should tell simple stories and introduce stirring scenes of action.

3. When selecting poetry to share with children, which of the following is not a criterion?

4. Rhythm in children’s poetry words particularly well when it a. Changes frequently b. Reinforces the content of the poem c. Emphasizes specific words d. Is very repetitive

5. The repetition of initial sounds in a line of poetry is called a. Assonance b. Alliteration c. Onomatopoeia d. Hyperbole

6. The repetition of vowel sounds by a poet to create interesting and unusual sound patterns is called a. Assonance b. Alliteration c. Onomatopoeia d. Hyperbole a. Assonance b. Alliteration c. Onomatopoeia d. Hyperbole a. Repetition b. Imagery c. Rhyme d. Shape a. Idioms b. Hyperboles c. Similes d. Metaphors

7. Which of the following refers to words that imitate the actions or sounds with which they are associated?

8. Which of the following primary elements in poetry encourage children to see, hear, feel, taste, smell, and touch the worlds created by poets?

9. Which of the following are implied comparisons between two things that have something in common but are essentially different?

10. Word division, line division, punctuation, and capitalization make up the poetic element called a. Rhythm b. Imagery c. Shape d. Repetition

11. One of the first poets to write limericks was a. Robert Browning b. Robert Louis Stevenson c. Edward Lear d. Christina Rossetti

12. Five line poems in which the first, second, and last lines rhyme are called a. Haiku b. Cinquains c. Ballads d. Limericks a. Free verse b. Concrete poetry c. Lyric poetry d. Ballads a. A three-line poem in which the first and third lines have five syllables and the second line has seven b. A five- line poem in which the first, second, and last lines rhyme c. A poem with little or no rhyme and with rhythm similar to everyday speech. d. None of the above

13. In which of the following types of poetry does the shape of the poem most emphasize the meaning of the poem?

14. Which of the following describes the structure of haiku?

15. Humorous poetry is closely related to a. Irony b. Lyrical rhymes c. Nonsense poetry d. Free verse

16. The famous poem “Jabberwocky” was written by a. Jack Prelutsky b. Lewis Carroll c. John Ciardi d. William Blake

17. Shel Silverstein wrote the popular poem a. The Baby Uggs Are Hatching b. Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too c. The Land of Ho-Ho-Hum d. Bickering

18. Jack Prelutsky writes poems that emphasize a. Humorous situations b. Nature c. Moods and emotions d. Ghostly happenings a. Valerie Worth b. John Ciardi c. Jack Prelutsky d. Byrd Baylor

19. Which of the following poets is particularly well-known for writing poetry that offers a special way of looking at and listening to nature?

20. Robert Frost, Byrd Baylor, and Paul Fleischman are well known for writing poetry that emphasizes a. Nature b. Moods and feelings c. Humor d. Situations

21. University students often say that their aversion to poetry stems from a. A lack of poetry books at home. b. A poor selection of poetry at public and school libraries. c. Not being exposed to poetry in the elementary school. d. The way it was presented in their elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms. a. Reading poetry aloud b. Creative dramatization c. Memorizing poems to read aloud to the class d. Sharing shape poems a. Refrain arrangement b. Voice arrangement c. Cumulative arrangement d. Dialogue arrangement a. Many activities already occurring in classrooms, libraries, or extracurricular organizations b. Copying poetry from famous poets c. Anthologies d. Television shows and video/computer games

22. What is one of the ways you can enhance children’s enjoyment of the situations found in poetry?

23. Which of the following types of arrangements in choral speaking would be most appropriate for young children?

24. What are natural sources of topics for self-expression through writing poetry?

25. Poetry, like any art, requires a. Time and space. b. A variety of color. c. Practice. d. Silence.

Essay Questions

1. Why teach poetry? Name and discuss at least three values or reasons for sharing poetry with children. Include specific poems to support your response.

2. How would you teach poetry to children in a certain grade? You pick the grade level and share at least three instructional activities you would use to help your students learn about and appreciate poetry.

3. Select a children’s poet and describe the kinds of poems s/he writes. Explain what makes this poet’s work so popular with children and provide a rationale for selecting this poet.

4. Write your own children’s poem using one of the forms discussed in the chapter. Identify the form and tell why you sele cted the form and content you did.

5. Convince a teaching colleague that using poetry in elementary classrooms is a good thing to do.