Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 1: Rhyming: Remember

by Christina Rossetti

Performer: Librivox - Julie VW

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the literary device.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

During this school year, we'll study nine common literary devices. Literary devices are 'identifiable rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.' Over the next four weeks, lessons focus on the literary device of rhyming. Rhyming is defined as a 'word that is pronounced identically with another word from the vowel in its stressed syllable to the end.' The featured poem, Christina Rossetti's 'Remember,' employs rhyming for effect. Through the title, the narrator asks the reader to remember something - and we wonder what? The poem reveals that the narrator fears dying and leaving their loved one. The first eight lines plead with the reader not to forget. The remaining lines comfort the reader, asking that if the reader temporarily forgets and then remembers, not to feel guilty, but to be happy. The narrator expresses trepidation over where our spirits venture after death - referring to the 'silent land' and 'darkness and corruption.'

Concepts

Poets often use literary devices, defined as 'rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.'

The nine literary devices we'll study include:

1. Rhyming
2. Alliteration
3. Similes
4. Metaphors
5. Personification
6. Foreshadowing
7. Allusion
8. Hyperbole
9. Onomatopoeia

Rhyming is defined as 'A word that is pronounced identically with another word from the vowel in its stressed syllable to the end.'

A rhyme scheme is defined as 'The pattern created by the rhymes at the ends of the lines of a stanza of poetry.'

1. Study the poem, 'Little Miss Muffet,' by Mother Goose, below and identify the pairs of rhyming words.
2. Note the rhyme scheme of A-A-B-C-C-B.

Study the common rhyme schemes:

1. Traditional: A-B-A-B...
2. Couplet: A-A-B-B...
3. Enclosed: A-B-B-A...
4. Triplet: A-A-A-B-B-B...

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Study an Example Poem

Does Mother Goose's poem, 'Humpty Dumpty,' follow a traditional (ABAB), couplet (AABB), enclosed (ABBA), or triplet (AAABBB) rhyming scheme?

• Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
• Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
• All the king's horses and all the king's men
• Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem excerpt. Does it follow a traditional (ABAB), couplet (AABB), enclosed (ABBA), or triplet (AAABBB) rhyming scheme?

• Remember me when I am gone away,
• Gone far away into the silent land;
• When you can no more hold me by the hand,
• Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
• Remember me when no more day by day
• You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
• Only remember me; you understand
• It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Activity 6: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 4-6 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

'Rhyme scheme.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.