Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 3: Rhyming: Christmas Carol

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Performer: Librivox - ravenotation

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

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

Synopsis

Paul Laurence Dunbar's 'Christmas Carol' celebrates Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. The poem employs the literary device of rhyming.

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, 'Heigh-Ho, The Carrion Crow,' follow a traditional (ABAB), couplet (AABB), enclosed (ABBA), or triplet (AAABBB) rhyming scheme?

• A carrion crow sat on an oak,
• Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding doe,
• Watching a tailor shape his cloak
• Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow,

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem excerpt. Identify the rhyming pattern it follows (e.g. ABAB).

• Ring out, ye bells!
• All Nature swells
• With gladness at the wondrous story,—
• The world was lorn,
• But Christ is born
• To change our sadness into glory.

Activity 6: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 10-12 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

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