Lesson 5: Figurative Language and Voice
Getting Started
Today you will read poems about the Southwest region of the United States. Most people think of the desert when they think about this region. The poems in this section paint beautiful pictures of the Southwest. You will also analyze two more figurative language tools often used by poets: metaphor and personification.
Materials
- R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet by Judy Young
- My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Questions to Explore
- How do figurative language techniques make poetry more effective and engaging?
- How do poets influence the emotions and thoughts of the reader?
Facts and Definitions
- First person writing uses the word "I," second person uses "you," and third person uses "he" or "she".
- Personification is a tool used by writers to give inanimate objects human traits.
- A metaphor makes a comparison between two seemingly unrelated things.
Reading and Questions
Read the poems in the section, "The Southwest States", in My America and answer the questions below.
- What was your favorite song in this section, and why?
- Which poem created the most vivid image in your mind? What words from the poem made the image so vivid?
- What did you learn about the culture and the geography of the Southwest?
- Many of the poems in this section mention plants and animals found in the Southwest. Write down the names of the plants and animals found in the poems.
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This lesson is provided for evaluation purposes only. All other use is prohibited.
This lesson is provided for evaluation purposes only. All other use is prohibited.
