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AsianPoetryBackgroundNotesandIndividualSelectionsTypesofPoetry•Narrative:tellsastory(ballads,epics,andverseromances)•Lyric:expressesthoughtsandfeelingsofasinglespeaker(odes,elegies,sonnets,andhaiku)•Dramatic:usestechniquesofdramatopresentspeechofoneormorecharactersElementsofPoetry•Meter:aregularpatternofstressedandunstressedsyllablesineachpoeticline•IambicPentameter:unstressed/stressed(again)repeated5timesinoneline:–ThatthenIscorntochangemystatewithkings.~Shakespeare–IAMNOTgoingtomakeyouidentifymeter,butyoumustknowwhatitis!Elementscontinued…•FreeVerse:doesnothavearegularmeter•Stanza:groupsoflines–Couplet(2)-tercet(3)–Quatrain(4)-sestet(6)**Noticethatthereisnotonefor5–metergenerallypreventsstanzasoffivelines.SoundDevices•Rhyme:repetitionofsoundsatendofwords(tide/side)•Alliteration:repetitionofinitialconsonantsounds(wildwind)•Consonance:repetitionoffinalconsonantsounds(stroke/luck)•Assonance:repetitionofsimilarvowelsounds(blue/moon)•Onomatopoeia:wordsthatrepresentsounds(buzz/bang)ImageryandFigurativeLanguage•Imagery:descriptivelanguagethatappealstothesenses•Simile:comparisonusing“like”or“as”•Metaphor:comparisonnotusing“like”or“as”•Personification:givinghumantraitstosomethingnonhuman•Oxymoron:combiningtwocontradictorytermstocreatenewmeaning(finemess)Authors•TheBookofSongs–acollectionofpoemschosenbyConfucius,butwithunknownauthors•T’aoCh’ien–leftpoliticalofficetoliveonafarmandwritepoetryaboutcommonmatters(farming,family)•LiPo–consideredasuprememasterofChinesepoetry;focusesonbeingfree-spiritedandharmonywithnature•TuFu–craftedShihpoetry;dealswithsocialissues(nobility’sextravaganceinfaceofextremepoverty)–Shih:evennumberoflineswithanevennumberofwordsperline(canbeanylength)LiteraryTerms•Songs:originallysettomusicandmeanttobesung–Refrains:wordsorphrasesthatappearatregularintervals•Ballads:songsthattellstories•Tone:attitudeofwritertowardhis/hersubjectand/oraudience•Diction:wordchoiceIBegofYou,ChungTzu•Speaker:youngwoman•Structure:3stanzas•Refrains:“Ibegofyou,ChungTzu”and“Iamafraid”•Content:Speakertornbetweenwantingtoseeherlove(ChungTzu)andthereputationsofsheandherfamily.ThickGrowtheRushLeaves•Speaker:woman•Structure:3stanzas•Refrain:none•Content:Thewomanfollowsamanwhomshelovesthroughdifficulties,thoughheismovingfurtherawayfromher(mid-water→ledge→shoals)•Symbolism:Speaker’sdescriptionsofleaves(thick,close,fresh)symbolizehergrowinglovefortheman.Form,Shadow,Spirit•Author:T’aoCh’ien•Style:Shih–maynotmatchinEnglishbecauseoftranslationconcerns•Speaker:Conversationbetweenentities;changesineachsection–Form:PhysicalBody–Shadow:PhysicalShadow–Spirit:SoulForm’sArgument•Thehumanbodycomestoanend.•Peopleonlyliveashorttime,thentheydieandarerarelyactuallyremembered.•Therefore,thereisnoreasontodenythephysicalbodyofworldlypleasures:drink,party,food.Shadow’sReply•You,thephysicalbodymaydie,butthesoul(representinglightandlove)isimmortal.•Assuch,howcanyouspareanyefforttoleavegoodmemories?•Wineandotherpleasuresmaysatethephysicalbody,buttheyareinjurioustothesoul.Spirit’sAnswertoboth•Ifyou,bodyandshadow,rankatallinthegrandschemeofthings,isitnotbecauseofmesinceallthatmattersisone’splaceintheuniverse/afterlife?•Deathisthegreatequalizer–alldiethesameregardlessofphysicalhealth,wealth,goodworks,etc.•Weareallconnected–physicalbody,soul,andspirit–andthereforewhathappenstooneimpactsusall.IBuiltMyHouseNearWhereOthersDwell•Speaker:author•Content:Thoughtheauthorbuilthishomenearotherpeople,heisinsolitudeinnature.Hefindseternaltruthsinnatureandissoinaweofitthathecannotexpresshisemotionsinwords.TheRiverMerchant’sWife•Author:LiPo•Speaker:youngbride(16)•Balladofevolvingloveforspouse•Nostalgia–fondmemoriesofchildhood;innocentgamesandfriends•Marriedat14;lovedat15;desperateat16AddressedHumorouslytoTuFu•LiPoandTuFuwerebestfriends,thoughverydifferent.•Speaker:LiPo•Audience:TuFu•Content:Makesfunoffriendfortakingpoetrytooseriously(paleandthin)SenttoLiPoasaGift•Speaker:TuFu•Audience:LiPo•Content:AccusesLiPoofnottakinglifeseriouslyenough;assertsthatLiPowillhavenothingofvaluetoleavebehindbecausehehasn’tmasteredimmortality(publishedpoetry)JadeFlowerPalace•Speaker:poet•Style:Shih•Pathos:compassionorsorrow•Content:Thespeakervisitsaformerlybeautifulpalacethatnowliesincompleteruin.Hepondersthepassageoftimeandtheinabilitytopredictthefuture(wouldtheprincehavebuiltthepalaceknowingwhatitwouldbecome?).