Teachers and Other Pests Grade 7 Poetry Anthology The Key Terms for Poetic Devices used in this Anthology are: 1. Alliteration The repetition of words beginning with the same sound. 2. Alternate Couplet Two lines that rhyme that have an un-rhymed line between them. 3. Couplet Two lines next to each other that rhyme or chime. 4. Imagery Words and phrases that are used in literature to create clear pictures in our minds. You can also have sound taste and smell imagery. 5. Internal Rhyme Words inside the lines of a poem that have similar sounds. 6. Line The group of words on the same line. 7. Repetition Where a word or phrase in a poem is repeated. 8. Rhyme Words at the end of lines in a poem that have similar sounds. 9. Rhythm A strong pattern of beats or sounds in a poem. 10. Tone The general mood or atmosphere created by the poem. 11. Simile Where an object or a person is compared to a similar object often with the word Like or as. 12. Stanza A series of lines in a poem that are grouped together. 13. Structure The organization of the component parts or defining features of a poem. This includes poetic devices such as stanzas, rhyme scheme, alliteration and simile. 1
Vocabulary: Engulfed: to swallow up or submerge. Exudes: to ooze out gradually. Immersed: surrounded by a liquid Granite: a type of very hard rock. The Key Devices used in this Rhyme - Alternate Couplet Simile The Aliens Have Landed! by Kenn Nesbitt The aliens have landed! It's distressing, but they're here. They piloted their flying saucer through our atmosphere. They landed like a meteor engulfed in smoke and flame. Then out they climbed immersed in slime and burbled as they came. Their hands are greasy tentacles. Their heads are weird machines. Their bodies look like cauliflower and smell like dead sardines. Their blood is liquid helium. Their eyes are made of granite. Their breath exudes the stench of foods from some unearthly planet. And if you want to see these sickly, unattractive creatures, you'll find them working in your school; they all got jobs as teachers. 2
Vocabulary: Prescribed: to order the use of a medicine. Flunked: failed. The Key Devices used in this Rhyme -Alternate Couplet Alliteration A Bad Case of the Sneezes by Bruce Lansky Last night I had the sneezes. I was really very ill. My mother called the doctor who prescribed a purple pill. At eight o'clock I went to bed. My mom turned out the light. I used up one whole box of Kleenex sneezing through the night. I sneezed my brains out in my bed. I didn't get much rest. So that's the reason, teacher, that I flunked the spelling test. 3
The Key Devices used in this Rhyme -Alternate Couplet Rhythm Tone Freddie by Phil Bolsta I don't like doing homework. I know that it will bore me. But now I am much happier 'Cause Freddie does it for me! He greets me at the door each day When I come home from school. He just can't wait to read my books- I think that's pretty cool. I give him all my homework, Like history and math. And when he's done I give him A nice warm bubble bath! My grades are so much better now, Which makes my parents glad. Freddie is the smartest dog That I have ever had! 4
The Key Devices used in this Rhyme - Couplet Tone Get Out of Bed! by Diane Z. Shore "Get out of bed, you silly fool! Get up right now, it's time for school. If you don't dress without a fuss, I'll throw you naked on the bus!" "Oh, Mom, don't make me go today. I'm feeling worse than yesterday. You don't know what I'm going through. I've got a strange, rare case of flu. "My body aches, my throat is sore. I'm sure I'm knocking on death's door. You can't send me to school-achoo!- 'Cause everyone could get it, too. "Besides, the kids despise me there. They always tease and always stare. And all the teachers know my name. When something's wrong, it's me they blame." "You faked a headache yesterday. Don't pull that stuff on me today. Stop acting like a silly fool- The principal cannot skip school!" 5
The Key Devices used in this Rhyme - Couplet Internal Rhyme Repetition Homework, I Love You by Kenn Nesbitt Homework, I love you. I think that you re great. It s wonderful fun when you keep me up late. I think you re the best when I m totally stressed, preparing and cramming all night for a test. Homework, I love you. What more can I say? I love to do hundreds of problems each day. You boggle my mind and you make me go blind, but still I m ecstatic that you were assigned. Homework, I love you. I tell you, it s true. There s nothing more fun or exciting to do. You re never a chore, for it s you I adore. I wish that our teacher would hand you out more. Homework, I love you. You thrill me inside. I m filled with emotions. I m fit to be tied. I cannot complain when you frazzle my brain. Of course, that s because I m completely insane. 6
Vocabulary: Porcupine: a rodent covered with stiff, sharp, spines. The Key Devices used in this Rhyme -Alternate Couplet Alliteration There's a New Cook in the Cafeteria by Bruce Lansky Good morning, staff and students. We have a brand new cook. And that's why our lunch menu will have a brand new look. To make a good impression, our cook's prepared a treat: your choice of lazy lizard soup or deep-fried monkey meat. If you're a vegetarian, we have good news today: she's serving pickled porcupine and jellyfish soufflé. And for dessert our cook has made a recipe from France: I'm sure you'll all want secondsof chocolate-covered ants. I hope you like this gourmet feast. I hope you won't complain. But if you do we'll have to bring our old cook back again. 7