Poetic Forms Poetic Forms    

Lesson 27: Visual: Voici la Maison (Here is the House)

by Guillaume Apollinaire

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 visual poem, "Voici la Maison" (Here is the House), by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire speaks of those born inside a house.

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: A poem where particular letter spell out a secret message, often the first letter of each line.
7. Visual: A poem written in such a way that the lines form a pattern, usually related to the subject-matter of the poem.
8. Ode
9. Blank Verse

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 the poem relates to the patterns its words form.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

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

Activity 4: Map the Poem

• Poet Guillaume Apollinaire wrote his poem in French.
• Which countries border France?

Activity 5: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 30 of 'Elementary Poetry 6: Poetic Forms.'

References

Apollinaires, Guillaume. Calligrammes. Paris. Mercvre de France, 1913-1916.