Literary Elements (Question 27)

Yesterday: Characterization

Today: Imagery

What is Imagery?

Language that appeals to one of the five senses.

Example:

The hot sunny day made his shirt damp (wet) and smell like old socks.

What senses are being appealed to in these examples of imagery? How do these images contribute to the meaning of the poem?

Example 1

On a starry winter night in Portugal / Where the ocean kissed the southern shore

Example 2A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.Golden = a shade of yellow

Beneath = under

Flutter = to move lightly and quickly

Breeze = soft wind

Today’s Schedule

Reading9:15-9:30 Imagery Lesson

9:30-10:00 Independent Reading and Annotating short stories and mentor texts (for Imagery, Characterization, etc.)

Conferences

10:00-10:10 BREAK

10:10-10:30 Unison Reading

10:30-10:40 Mini lesson

10:40-11:00 Activity Stations

11:00-11:05 SHORT BREAK

Writing11:05-11:20 Imagery Lesson

11:20-11:50 Independent Writing (USING MENTOR TEXTS)

11:50-12:00 Share/Clean Up

If the first break goes over time, the second break will be removed.

Writing Literary Element Paragraphs

Question 27

The Directions for Paragraph

Choose a specific literary technique or element used by ONE of the authors. Using specific details from that passage, in a well-developed paragraph, show how the author uses that element or technique to develop the passage.

Let’s try together.Passage 1:

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,

so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw

open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,

indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths

and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight

that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight

on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants

from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,

holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,

well, today is just that kind of day.

“Today” by Billy Collins

What words create images in your mind?

What effect do they have on the poem and/or reader?

First, I must choose a literary element (imagery) and 2 examples from the text

I will use:

“throw open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,

indeed, rip the little door from its jamb”

"the garden bursting with peonies”

How do these images contribute to the meaning of the poem?

Collins is creates a mood of exuberance and liberation. The first quote, “throw open all the windows in the house and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,” gives the reader the mental image of someone excitedly opening exits. The words “throw” and “rip” really help you feel that sense of urgency to be free, enjoying the spring day.

The second quote, "the garden bursting with peonies," puts an image in the reader's mind of a garden full of life and vitality. That is a very joyful and happy image. So, it gives the reader a feeling of freedom, life and liberation. The inhabitants of the house can’t wait to be outside.

How do we put this together into a “well-developed” paragraph?

The poet uses imagery to create a mood of energy, happiness, and liberation. For example, the lines, “throw open all the windows in the house and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,” this gives the reader the mental image of someone excitedly opening exits. Then, when he describes "the garden bursting with peonies," he paints a picture of a beautiful garden full of life and beauty. This creates a joyful, happy mood, and the reader imagines the excitement the inhabitants must feel. Both these images create a mood of joy and liberation in the poem.

Things to remember:

ONE passage.

ONE literary element/technique.

TWO examples from the passage.

Discuss the EFFECTS it creates (how the literary element adds to the meaning).

5-8 sentences.