LESSON 5

CONTENT OF POETRY
WEEK 5
CONTENT STANDARDS
The learner have an understanding of poetry as a genre and how to analyze its elements and techniques produce.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The learner shall be able to produce a short, well-crafted poem.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The learners…
1. identify the various elements, techniques, and literary devices in poetry
2. 4. explore innovative techniques in writing poetry
3. 5. write a short poem applying the various elements, techniques, and literary devices
STARTER

ACROSS STICK

Context as content of poetry refers to the author’s knowledge of the topic of the poem. When the author knows
much about the topic, he/she is able to write well about it.

Acrostic is a kind of poem wherein the first letters of each of the lines spell a word.

SET THE TONE

Tone in poetry refers to the author’s attitude toward the subject. Tone may be serious, enthusiastic, formal,
objective, dramatic, humorous, among others.

TASK 1

Jose P. Rizal, Filipino nationalist and polymath, wrote a lot of stories and poems which have stood the rest of
decades.

Research on the biology of Josie P. Rizal. Then, complete the time line below by filling in the boxes with
important or striking events in Rizal’s life that might have influence his works.
 Task 2

Rizal is also known for his poems, most of which he wrote while studying in a university in Manila. Read and
analyze the following poem of his and answer the questions that follow.

EDUCATION GIVES LUSTER TO MOTHERLAND

BY JOSE P. RIZAL (Translator Unknown)

Wise education, vital breath
Inspires an enchanting virtue;
She puts the Country in the lofty seat
Of endless glory, of dazzling glow,
And just as the gentle aura's puff
Do brighten the perfumed flower's
hue:
So education with a wise, guiding
hand,
A benefactress, exalts the human
band.
Man's placid repose and earthly life
To education he dedicates
Because of her, art and science are
born
Man; and as from the high mount
above
The pure rivulet flows, undulates,
So education beyond measure
Gives the Country tranquility secure.
Where wise education raises a throne
Sprightly youth are invigorated,
Who with firm stand error they subdue
And with noble ideas are exalted;
It breaks immortality's neck,
Contemptible crime before it is halted:
It humbles barbarous nations
And it makes of savages champions.
And like the spring that nourishes
The plants, the bushes of the meads,
She goes on spilling her placid wealth,
And with kind eagerness she
constantly feeds,
The river banks through which she
slips,
And to beautiful nature all she
concedes,
So whoever procures education wise
Until the height of honor may rise.
From her lips the waters crystalline Will see the lords and governors
Gush forth without end, of divine The noble people with loyal venture
virtue, Christian education always procure.
And prudent doctrines of her faith
The forces weak of evil subdue, And like the golden sun of the morn
That break apart like the whitish Whose rays resplendent shedding
waves gold,
That lash upon the motionless And like fair aurora of gold and red
shoreline: She overspreads her colors bold;
And to climb the heavenly ways the Such true education proudly gives
people The pleasure of virtue to young and
Do learn with her noble example. old
And she enlightens out Motherland
In the wretched human beings' breast dear
The living flame of good she lights As she offers endless glow and luster.
The hands of criminal fierce she ties,
And fill the faithful hearts with
delights,
Which seeks her secrets beneficent
And in the love for the good her breast
she incites,
And it's th' education noble and pure
Of human life the balsam sure.
And like a rock that rises with pride
In the middle of the turbulent waves
When hurricane and fierce Notus roar
She disregards their fury and raves,
That weary of the horror great
So frightened calmly off they stave;
Such is one by wise education steered
He holds the Country's reins
unconquered.
His achievements on sapphires are
engraved;
The Country pays him a thousand
honors;
For in the noble breasts of her sons
Virtue transplanted luxuriant flow'rs;
And in the love of good e'er disposed

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the poem all about?

_____________________________________________________________________
2. What is Rizal’s personal view toward the poem’s topic?
________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________.
3. What specific events in Rizal’s life might have influenced him in writing the poem?
___________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________.
4. As a student, did this poem affect you? If not, why? If yes, in what way?
___________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________.
 TASK 3

Pick three lines from the poem. What do you believe is the author’s Provide a one-word equivalent foe
personal view when he wrote this line? what personal view.
Why?

EXTRACT FROM THE RACK

A symbol, which is one component of the content of poetry, is something used to represent something else; i.e., an
idea, belief, etc. Through symbols, the author is able to go beyond the literal meaning of a text and present ideas
figuratively. For example, a “blooming flower” may mean something that is constantly growing or unveiling itself
beautifully.

Go back to the poem entitled “Education Gives Luster to Motherland” by Jose P. Rizal. Identify the symbols that
the author used, and point out what these symbols could mean in the poem. Fill out the table below. You may add extra
line if necessary.

Specific line where the symbol is Name the symbol Interpretation

used…

Task 4

Research on three excerpts from poems that use symbols. Then, write your own four-line stanza using the
symbols.

1. From the poem entitled __________________________

Written by _____________________________________
Symbol used __________________________________
My own poem:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

2. From the poem entitled __________________________

Written by _____________________________________
Symbol used __________________________________

My own poem:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
 3. From the poem entitled __________________________
Written by _____________________________________
Symbol used __________________________________

My own poem:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

You will be graded on the following criteria:

Content - 20%
Organization -20%
Used of symbols -40%
Grammar -20%
100%

DISCUSSION
The theme of the poem is its general central idea. The motif is a recurring idea in the poem. The
former may be stated abstractly or explicitly while the latter is always explicit and made obvious through
repetition.

MOTIF

Literary pieces may also contain recurring words, phrases, or clauses. These are called motifs. A
poem’s motif can help establish the theme of the poem by giving reader a clue on what the poem is about. In
the example below, the motif or recurring word is “Dreamland” and the theme is about appreciation of
Disneyland .

(Noun/one word) Dreamland!

(Adjective/two words) Colorful, delightful

(Nouns/three words) Fantasy, Wishes, Dreams

(Interjection/four words) Oh my amazing Dreamland!

Now, it’s your turn!

Name your favorite place. Describe it by writing a poem using the pattern given below. Be sure to
mention the name of the place at least twice.

(Noun/ one word) __________________________

(Adjective/two words) ________________________

(Nouns/three words) _________________________

TASK 5

You can expand the number of lines. As you add more lines, you should add more words to each line. You can
identify the content of the lines you added. But, be sure that the only recurring word you use is that of your favorite place.
After all, that is what makes it your favorite!

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
You will be graded on the following criteria:
Content - 20%
Organization - 20%
Used of words - 10%
50%

Learner’s Name: _________________________________ Year & Section: _______________________

Parent/ Guardian: ________________________________Date: _____________________________

(Signature over Printed Name) Teacher: __________________________Contact No.: ________________