Introduction to Poetry - CD Study Guide

Sample Pages

Introduction to Poetry - CD Study Guide

The Study Guide

Poetry, in many ways, defies definition. Any restrictions would disqualify some works that are, nevertheless, poetry. The only statement about poetry that we can make with absolute certainty is that good poetry uses what is known as "compressed language." That means that it says a lot but uses few words to do so. Every word is very valuable; the poets make their choices only after much deliberation, and we must understand each word to grasp the meanings of the poems. This word compression is the primary reason that most students claim not to understand poetry. Students who are accustomed to skimming over their lessons once and dashing off correct answers in record time will find that poetry asks much more of us than this. It invites us to calm down, sit still, and think.

Using three short poetry anthologies, this study guide examines more than 40 well-known English-language poems, introducing the student to techniques such as rhyme and meter and various poetic forms such as the sonnet, the villanelle, the ballad, and more.

In 82 pages (plus the answer key), our study guide contains:

Background on the authors and story
Prereading suggested activities
Vocabulary activities related to the story
General content questions
Literary analysis and terminology questions designed to give students a good understanding of writing technique and how to use it
Critical analysis questions designed to help students consider and analyze the intellectual, moral, and spiritual issues in the story and weigh them with reference to scripture
and, of course, a detailed answer key!

Please Note: This is an interactive CD-ROM, which contains a full-version study guide in a PDF format. It is PC & MAC compatible. With interactive files, students now have the capability of entering their answers directly on the computer and saving their work in progress. Parents can also grade the work on the computer, leaving comments and notes within the file. You can also print as many copies as you like for your students. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print this file format. If your computer does not already contain Adobe Acrobat Reader or you need to upgrade to the latest version, it can be downloaded free via an internet link included on this CD.

For use with the books 100 Best Loved Poems, 101 Great American Poems, and Great Short Poems.

This study guide is also available in book format.