Poetic Forms Poetic Forms    

Lesson 17: Epitaph: Epitaph to a Dog (Excerpt)

by Lord Byron

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read the poem each day.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poetic form.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

The next poetic form we'll explore is called the epitaph. Epitaphs are poems honoring the deceased, engraved on a burial marker or tomb. There are few rules for epitaphs, other than they address the deceased, are inscribed on a burial marker or tomb, and are relatively short. Most are somber, but some use humor to remember the deceased. In the provided excerpt of "Epitaph to a Dog," British poet Lord Byron honors his Newfoundland dog, named Boatswain, that died of rabies at a young age.

Concepts

Poems often adhere to specific poetic forms, defined as 'poems following distinct sets of rules.'

The nine poetic forms we'll study include the:

1. Sijo: A lyrical Korean poetic form of three long lines.
2. Haiku: A Japanese poem of three lines and a total of seventeen syllables.
3. Limerick: A humorous poem of five lines and the rhyming scheme AABBA, typically having syllables of 9–9–6–6–9.
4. Sonnet: A poetic form of fourteen lines that follow one of a few common rhyming schemes.
5. Epitaph: A poem honoring the deceased, engraved on a burial marker or tomb.
6. Acrostic
7. Visual
8. Ode
9. Blank Verse

Epitaphs follow the listed rules:

1. Honor the deceased
2. Relatively short - the shorter the better
3. Inscribed on a burial marker or tomb

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Poem Title, Poet Name, and Poem

• Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

• After reading the poem, narrate the poem events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Map the Poem

• The featured poem is an epitaph to Lord Byron's Newfoundland dog.
• Newfoundland dogs originated in Newfoundland, now a part of Canada.
• Find Canada on the map of the world.

Activity 5: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 20 of 'Elementary Poetry 6: Poetic Forms.'

References

'Epitaph.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Epitaph to a Dog.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.