When teaching poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. “Simile", "alliteration", "consonance", "imagery", and “parallelism” are a few important terms.
After you have read the poem, ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the Storyboard Creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem. They will have an absolute blast and gain mastery of the words.
| DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line | “What happens to a dream deferred?” |
| Imagery | The use of descriptive or figurative language to create vivid mental imagery that appeals to the senses | “Does it stink like rotten meat?” |
| Parallelism | A form of repetition in a sentence or thought that emphasizes an idea or deepens the reaction to the idea | “Does it dry up / Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– / And then run?” |
| Consonance | The repetition of similar consonant sounds at the ends of words | “Or crust and sugar over–” |
| Simile | A comparison using 'like' or 'as' | “Maybe it just sags / Like a heavy load.” |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows five examples of poetic language in “Harlem" (A Dream Deferred).