Today we will be working on Shape or Concrete Poetry. This is poetry which mixes drawing and words to create its meaning.
What is Shape Poetry?
Shape poetry is also called concrete poetry, and is a picture made out of both words and regular drawing. Some shape poetry can be all drawing with very few words or it can be a picture made completely out of words. The words written in shape poetry always has something to do with the shape being drawn. Shape poetry shares its message with the reader both through the words written and the shapes those words take on.
How to Make Your Shape Poetry:
1) Pick an object found in nature (refer to our brainstormed nature list for ideas).
2) Lightly draw an outline of this object.
3) Write words over this outline or somewhere inside the outline.
4) For this class you MUST include at LEAST ONE poetic device. (See the poetic device lesson, or your notes for a refresher on poetic devices).
5) When you hand it in tell me what poetic device you used.
Shape Poetry Examples:
(From A Poke in the I by Paul B. Janeczko)