Poetic Forms Poetic Forms    

Lesson 32: Ode: Ode on the Mammoth Cheese Weighing Over 7,000 Pounds

by James McIntyre

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

Poet James McIntyre emigrated from Scotland and ended up living in Canada's dairy country. He wrote "Ode on the Mammoth Cheese Weighing Over 7,000 Pounds" in honor of an enormous chuck of cheese exhibited in Canada, the United States, and Britain.

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: A poem honoring and/or celebrating something or someone.
9. Blank Verse

Odes generally follow these rules:

1. Written to praise someone or something
2. Follow a rhyming scheme (e.g. AABBCC)

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 concepts aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Map the Poem

• The huge hunk of cheese featured in the poem traveled to Canada, the United States, and Britain (the United Kingdom).
• Find these countries on the map of the world.

Activity 5: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 35 of 'Elementary Poetry 6: Poetic Forms.'

References

'James McIntyre (poet).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.