Quarter 3: Poetry

Creative Expression

We Filipinos have been known for our capability to express our concerns, feelings,

and values creatively. God has blessed our people with the ability to use descriptive

language to capture the essence of our experiences, imaginations, and aspirations.

Hence, Philippine Literature abounds with poetry—the language of the art that enables

us to empathize with Filipino poets of the distant past.

This quarter will usher us into the wonderful world of Philippine poetry. We will

discover how Filipino poets use sensory details, figures of speech, and other literary

devices to express and preserve Philippine culture, ideals, and heritage.

As we indulge ourselves in reading the English poems written by Filipinos, let us

find time to answer the following questions:

1. How does ancient Philippine poetry help us connect to the Filipino poets from

the distant past?

2. What makes Filipino poems meaningful?

3. Why do we need to know the different types of poetry?

Topic 2: Basic Elements of a Poem, Style and Literary Devices/Techniques

EXPLORE

“How do the elements of a poem and the author’s style, use of language/words

contribute to its over-all effect?”

Warm Up: Look at the given picture and answer the questions that follow.

(Picture of Mother and Child at the seashore looking at the sea)

1. What does this picture remind you of?

2. Does anything puzzle/confuse/interest you about this picture?

3. How is this picture related to poetry?

FIRM UP

Input 1: Basic Elements of Poetry

(Condensed from http://www.articleswave.com/articles/different-elements-of-poetry.html)

Poetry as a literary form may be defined simply as a patterned expression of ideas in

concentrated or imaginative terms, usually (but not necessarily) containing rhyme and a
specific meter.

1. Form refers to a poem's design as a whole; its shape or structure. Poems may be
closed or open.
In the closed form, the poet follows some sort of pattern.
On the other hand, in the open form, the poet does not follow a pattern; instead,
the poem is shaped as it moves along, often adding emphasis as it goes.

2. Subject refers to the central topic of a poem.

3. Speaker refers to the voice telling the poem; a poem may have more than one
speaker; the speaker and the poet are not necessarily the same
Persona refers to a "mask" the poet creates to provide the speaker of a poem;
when analyzing poetry, be sure to distinguish between the poet and the speaker.
4. Rhyme refers to the similarity or likeness of sound existing between two words; the
repetition of sounds that are similar or identical; expresses strong feelings and enhances
the meaning and impact of poetry

5. Rhythm refers to the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables (beats) we
hear in poetry; stress is simply the greater amount of emphasis we give to a syllable in
speaking; stressed syllable is accented (long); unstressed syllable is unaccented (short).

6. Meter refers to the pattern of rhythm in a line of poetry.

Input : Forms and Functions of Phrase Modifiers

Phrase modifiers may function as adjective or adverb in the sentence.

Phrase modifiers that function as adjective are called adjectival phrase. An

adjectival phrase may be a prepositional phrase, a participial phrase, or an infinitive
phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Look at how adjectival phrases are used in each sentence.

Prepositional Phrase: A riddle is a poem with a mystery to be solved.

With a happy heart, he boarded the ship.

Participial Phrase: Breaking away from traditional form, Jose Garcia Villa gave Philippine
poetry a new feature.

The poet equipped with knowledge and skills in using descriptive

language will go a very long way.

Infinitive Phrase: The feature to be included in the poem is the presence of metaphor.

The poem to be interpreted orally is “Song”.

On the other hand, a phrase that functions as an adverb is called an adverbial

phrase. An adverbial phrase may be a prepositional phrase or an infinitive phrase that
modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

Prepositional Phrase: The poem was written after a very long reflection process.

She sealed her letter with a kiss.

Infinitive Phrase: I came here to read poems with you.

We are all interested to read our poems aloud.

 One-Minute Refelection

What would happen if phrase modifiers would not be used in writing poems?

DEEPEN

Let us see the elements of poetry in action as we enjoy reading “The Sea” by
Natividad Marquez.

THE SEA

Why does the sea laugh, Mother,

As it glints beneath the sun?

It is thinking of the joys, my child,

That it wishes every one.

Why does the sea sob so, Mother,

As it breaks on the rocky shore?

It recalls the sorrows of the world

And weeps forevermore.

Why is the sea so peaceful, Mother,

As if it were fast asleep?

It would give our tired hearts, dearest child,

The comfort of the deep.

Reader’s Response

1. What is the dominant sound in the poem?

2. How do the rhyme, rhythm, and sounds of the words affect your feeling about the
poem?
3. What comparisons are made by the poet in the poem “The Sea”?
4. Who is the speaker/persona/imaginary voice in the poem?
5. What is the speaker’s situation? How does the poem present the situation of the
persona?
Writing Challenge

Complete each of the following sentences with the indicated phrase modifiers.

1. “The Sea” is a poem (infinitive phrase)

______________________________________.

2. (Participial phrase)____________________________________, the sea laughs.

3. The water (prepositional phrase) ________________________________ is salty.

4. The sea weeps because of the sorrows (prepositional phrase) ___________________.

5. A student (participial phrase) ________________________________________

should know descriptive language.

Speaking Engagement

In three sentences, share with your partner the most important thing that you
have learned in Topic 2.

TRANSFER

You are working in an advertising agency that is commissioned to prepare a

campaign ad that will effectively promote love of country among the youth. Your task is
to come up with a collage reflecting the theme of “Maria Clara’s Song” by Dr. Jose Rizal.
Your work will be judged based on the Rubric for Collage Making.

MARIA CLARA’S SONG

Sweet are the hours in one’s native land,

Where all is dear the sunbeams bless;
Life-giving breezes sweep the strand,
And death is softened by love’s caress.

Warm kisses play on mother’s lips,

On her fond, tender breast awaking
When round her neck the soft arm slips,
And bright eyes smile, all love partaking.

Sweet is death for one’s native land,

Where all is dear the sunbeams bless;
Dead is the breeze that sweeps the strand
 Without a mother, home, or love’s caress.

Rubric For Making a Collage

CATEGORY Outstanding (4) Satisfactory (3) Fair (2) Needs Improvement(1)

Attention to Theme The student gives a
reasonable explanation
of how every item in the
collage is related to the
assigned theme. For
most items, the
relationship is clear
without explanation.
Creativity Several of the graphics
or objects used in the
collage reflect an
exceptional degree of
student creativity in their
creation and/or display
The student gives a
reasonable explanation
of how most items in the
collage are related to
the assigned theme. For
many of the items, the
relationship is clear
without explanation.
One or two of the
graphics or objects used
in the collage reflect
student creativity in their
creation and/or display.
The student gives a The student's
fairly reasonable explanations are weak
explanation of how most and illustrate difficulty
items in the collage are understanding how to
related to the assigned relate items to the
theme. assigned theme.
One or two graphics or The student did not
objects were made or make or customize any
customized by the of the items on the
student, but the ideas collage.
were typical rather than
creative (.e.g, apply the
emboss filter to a
drawing in Photoshop).
Design Graphics are trimmed to Graphics are trimmed to Graphics have been Graphics are untrimmed
an appropriate size and an appropriate size and trimmed to an OR of inappropriate size
interesting shape and interesting shape and appropriate size and and/or shape. It appears
are arranged well, some are arranged with some shape, but the little attention was given
in front and some items in front and others arrangement of items is to designing the collage.
behind. Care has been behind. The canvas, not very attractive. It
taken to balance the however does not appears there was not a
pictures across the appear balanced. lot of planning of the
canvas. item placement.
Quality of The collage shows The collage shows The collage shows The collage was put
Construction considerable attention to attention to construction. some attention to together sloppily. Items
construction. The items The items are neatly construction. Most items appear to be just
are neatly trimmed. All trimmed. All items are are neatly trimmed. All "slapped on". Pieces
items are carefully and carefully and securely items are securely may be loose or hanging
securely attached to the attached to the backing. attached to the backing. over the edges.
backing. There are no A few barely noticeable A few barely noticeable Smudges, stains, rips,
stray marks, smudges stray marks, smudges stray marks, smudges uneven edges, and/or
or glue stains. Nothing or glue stains are or glue stains are stray marks are evident.
is hanging over the present. Nothing is present. Nothing is
edges. hanging over the edges. hanging over the edges.

Poetry Poetry

Narrative Narrative Lyric

Topic 3: Types of Poetry and Choral Reading

Lyric
EXPLORE Dramatic

“How do types of poetry provide succinct ideas about the richness and beauty of
Dramatic
poetry?”

Mental Challenge: Which is the best diagram?

A. B.
Poetry

Narrative Lyric Dramatic

 C.

FIRM UP

Input 1: Types of Poetry

Poems may be classified as lyric, narrative, or dramatic depending on the poem’s

structure, feature, or purpose.

To illustrate, a lyric poem is a song-like poem. Traditionally, a lyric poem was

meant to be sung. However, in our contemporary society, lyric poems include all the
poems that express the poet’s emotions or feelings about an experience or an
observation. Notice the song-like quality of N.V.M Gonzalez’s “Song” as you read it
aloud.

SONG
 Behold the bountiful land,
The young hills and the corn;
In the green river’s womb
Children are born;

Honey’s in the forest,

Blue fish in the sea;
The ash-gray of the clearings
Grows grain for me.

On the other hand, a narrative poem is a poem that tells a story. It has the
elements of a narrative and the features of a poem. Discover how the important events
during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ are creatively narrated in Conrado Pedroche’s “Man
Upon the Cross”.

MAN UPON THE CROSS

Upon the cross against the hills of the night

they nailed the man, and while
they speared his breast they made him drink
the bile.

He bore the pains alone, alone

but in the haloed darkness saw
sweet Mary’s face upturned
in grief below.

Tears filmed her eyes, but love

chastened the tragic beauty on her face
which neither death nor sorrow
could erase.

He saw and feebly in the silence strove

to speak a few remembered words;
but now the whispers left his lips
like tender birds.

His arms were cold and death

was in his eyes; the streams
of blood were dry upon the whiteness of
his limbs.
 His breath was like a wounded bird,
Wanting to stay, to stay, bereft;
Now Mary rose and, treasuring his
sorrow, left.

Finally, a dramatic poem is a poem that is meant to be performed before an

audience. Thus, a poem that tells a story and has lyric passages may become dramatic
when it is part of a drama or a play (Mayes, 1987).

Reference:

Mayes, F. (1987). The discovery of poetry. USA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

One-Minute Reflection

Why did the early Filipino poets write different types of poems?

Grammar Focus: Sentence Structure

A very notable feature of contemporary Filipino poems is the presence of varied

sentence structures. To avoid monotony and to make the poems interesting, Filipino
poets use a combination of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex
sentence structures.

An easy way to understand the different sentence structures is to take note of the
number and kind of clauses present in the sentce.

1. Simple Sentence—This sentence has only one independent clause. An independent

clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a
complete sentence.

Examples: Poetry is the language of art.

Subject Predicate
 Sensory details and figures of speech are considered descriptive language.
Subject Predicate

Simile and metaphor are figures of speech.

Subject Predicate

Variety of sentence structures lessens monotony and makes the poem interesting.
Subject Predicate

*Take note that the sentence remains to be classified as simple even if it has a compound
subject or a compound predicate.

2. Compound—This sentence has two or more independent clauses joined by

coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) preceeded by a comma (,),
correlative conjunctions (either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, etc.), conjunctive
adverbs (moreover, however, consequently, nevertheless, etc.), or semicolon (;).

Examples: He bore the pain alone, but in the haloed darkness saw sweet Mary’s face
upturned in grief below.
(from “Man Upon The Cross”—Conrado Pedroche)

Sometimes you are so gentle; sometimes you are so wild.

(from “Soothing As Night Winds Are”—Salvador B. Espinas)

3. Complex—This sentence has only one independent clause and one or more
dependent clause. A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and a
predicate but cannot stand a lone as a complete sentence. Dependent clauses are
introduced by relative pronouns (who, which, that), relative advers (when, where, why,
how), or subordinating conjunctions (because, while, if, even though, etc.).

Examples: If you love, my beloved, count the grains of sand in the dunes of Laoag
(from “If You Love, My Beloved”—translated by Florentino Hornedo)

Speak not to me of great reception halls

Where stately ladies walk with stately men.
(from “Speak Not”—Soledad Juan)

4. Compound-Complex—This sentence has two or more independent clauses and one

or more dependent clauses.

Examples: Upon the cross against the hills of the night

they nailed the man, and while
they speared his breast they made him drink
the bile.
 (from “Man Upon The Cross”—Conrado Pedroche)

Tears filmed her eyes, but love

chastened the tragic beauty on her face
which neither death nor sorrow
could erase.
(from “Man Upon The Cross”—Conrado Pedroche)

One Minute Challenge

Could you identify the sentence structures present in the remaining

stanzas of the poem “Man Upon The Cross”?

Leveling Up Challenge

Variety of sentence structures makes poetry interesting. See if variation of

sentence structures is also observed in music lyrics—a relative of lyric poetry. Carefully
read the following music lyrics and classify each of the underlined portions as simple,
compound, complex, or compound-complex.

Just The Way You Are

Bruno Mars

(1) Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
(2) Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
(3) She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

(4) Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

(5) When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are(yeah)

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me
(6) Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

(7)Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
(8) If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say

(9) When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
(10)When you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are
The way you are, the way you are
Source:http://www.elyricsworld.com/just_the_way_you_are_lyrics_bruno_mars.html

DEEPEN

Choral Reading Presentation

Understanding the features, elements, and types of Philippine poetry helps us

empathize with the poets from our distant past. One way of showing our appreciation
for the poems written by Filipino poets is to interpret them through a Choral Reading.

Here are the important points to consider in doing a Choral Reading Presentation.

1. Voice Quality—The quality of the readers’ voice should be able to express the
intensity of emotions conveyed by the poem.

2. Facial Expression—The readers’ facial expression must be effective enough to

make the audience experience the excitement, thrill, love, hatred, sadness, and passion.

3. Delivery—The delivery of the lines of the poem should be engaging for the
viewers.

4. Phrasing—The poem being read should be correctly divided into thought

phrases to ensure that the audience will understand the message of the poem.

5. Enunciation—Words should be pronounced with utmost clarity and precision.

 6. Props and Costumes—Appropriate props and costumes should be used to
enhance the viewers’ visualization of the situation depicted in the poem.

TRANSFER

Performance Task

You are part of a group that is responsible for promoting Filipino culture, ideals, and
heritage. Your manager asks your group to come up with a meaningful choral reading of
the poem “Ballad of A Mother’s Heart” before an audience consisting of teenagers. Your
performance will be assessed using the Rubric for Choral Reading Presentation.

BALLAD OF A MOTHER’S HEART

The night was dark, for the moon was young

And the stars were asleep and rare;
The clouds were thick, yet Youth went out
To see his Maiden fair.

“Dear One,”he pleaded as he knelt

Before her feet, in tears.
“My love is true; why have you kept
Me waiting all these years?”

The Maiden looked at him unmoved

It seemed, and whispered low:
“Persistent Youth, you have to prove
By deeds your love is true.”

“There is not a thing I would not do

For you, Beloved,” said he.
“Then go,” said she, “to your mother dear
And bring her heart to me.”

Without another word, Youth left

And went to his mother dear,
And ope’d her breast and took her heart.
He did not shed a tear!

Then back to his Maiden fair he ran,

Unmindful of the rain;
But his feet slipped and down he fell
And loud he groaned with pain.

Still in his hand he held the prize

That would win his Maiden’s hand;
And he thought of his mother dear
So kind, so sweet, so fond.

And then he heard a voice, not from

His lips but all apart:
“Get up,” it said; “were you hurt, Child?”
It was his mother’s heart.

--Jose LaVilla Tierra

 RUBRIC FOR CHORAL READING PRESENTATION

CRITERIA DISTINGUISHED (4) PROFICIENT (3) DEVELOPING (2) BEGINNING (1)

Voice Quality The voice quality of the The voice quality of the The voice quality of the The voice quality of the
group makes the group is good enough group tries to build up group makes the
viewer feel the to entice the audience interest among viewers presentation boring.
intensity of emotions but inconsistency was but it is not good
due to its appropriate observed. enough.
dynamics and
modulation.
Facial Expression Facial expressions are Facial expressions catch Facial expressions are Facial expressions are
effective enough that the audience’s inconsistent and ineffective and
they consistently make attention but misleading. inappropriate; thus,
the viewers see and sometimes create they create an
feel the excitement, confusion of the atmosphere of
thrill, love, hatred, viewers. boredom.
sadness, and passion.
Delivery The delivery of the The delivery of the The delivery of the The delivery of the
piece engages the piece makes the piece tried to catch the piece gives an
viewers to react viewers interested but attention of the impression of
positively and gives they feel that audience but due to disinterest.
them more interest to something is missing in some inappropriate
see the next moves or the presentation. gestures, it fails.
hear the next words.
Phrasing Phrasing is perfectly Phrasing is almost Phrasing is not given Phrasing is not
considered. there. attention. considered.
Enunciation Words are articulated Words are articulated Words are articulated Words are badly
with utmost clarity and with a bit consideration without considering articulated and many of
precision that the to clarity and precision clarity and precision them are
meaning of the piece is that the meaning of the that the meaning of the mispronounced.
clearly understood by piece is somehow piece is not identified
the audience. understood by the by the audience.
audience.
Props and Costume Props and Costumes Props and Costumes Props and Costumes Props and Costumes
capture the viewers’ capture the viewers’ capture the viewers’ are missing.
curiosity and are curiosity but are not curiosity but are
related to the idea of related to the idea of inappropriate.
the poem. the poem.
Overall Impact The entire presentation The entire presentation The entire presentation The entire presentation
was perfectly executed was done with tried to arrest the created an ambience of
with utmost consideration to some viewers’ attention and disinterest, boredom
consideration to the of the criteria above. interest but failed due and incompetence.
criteria above. to many technical and
performance lapses.