Lesson video

Hello, everyone, my name is Mr. Brown, and I am here with your English lesson for today.

We are going to be introducing you to a new poem by Joseph Coelho, and that poem is called "MORERAPS." "MORERAPS." I wonder if you've heard of this poem before.

Let's explore it together, shall we? Let's get started.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can understand the structure and function of the poem "MORERAPS" by Joseph Coelho.

The keywords we'll use are acrostic poem, metaphor, poetic device, and alliteration.

Let's say this together.

My turn and then your turn.

Acrostic poem.

Metaphor.

Poetic device.

Alliteration.

Perfect.

Well done.

Let's look at the definitions for those words.

So an acrostic poem is a poem in which the first letter of each line spells a word.

A metaphor is a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else.

Poetic device is a technique used by poets to enhance the meaning, sound, and overall impact of their poems. Alliteration means the same sound found at the start of words that come close together.

We'll start today's lesson with an introduction to the poem and then move on to poetic devices.

In this unit and today's lesson, we'll be exploring the poetry of Joseph Coelho.

Here's a summary of what we already know about Joseph Coelho.

He grew up in a tower block in Roehampton with his mother and sister.

He wrote his first poem in year eight and kept writing from then on.

He studied archaeology at university and spent two years in Peru.

He attended a poetry course and shared some of his poems on stage.

He then spent years running poetry workshops in schools and writing plays.

And in 2014, his first poetry book called "Werewolf Club Rules" was published, and in 2022, he was appointed Children's Laureate.

Let me just check your understanding of Joseph Coelho.

Which of these statements about Joseph Coelho is true? He wrote his first poem when he was at university.

In 2014, his first poetry book, "Werewolf Club Rules," was published.

He studied archaeology at university and spent two years in Brazil.

Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Let's see if you found the correct answer.

Well, well done if you said B.

In 2014, he did publish his first poetry book called "Werewolf Club Rules." A, he wrote his first poem when he was at university.

No, it was in year eight, at secondary school.

And C, he studied archaeology at university and spent two years in Brazil.

No, it was not Brazil, it was Peru.

So well done if you said B.

Joseph Coelho is a creative poet.

Today we are going to discuss one of his most unique poems and one that will provide a structure for us to follow ourselves in a future lesson.

It is, of course, the poem, "MORERAPS." "MORERAPS" is a poem taken from Coelho's first published collection of poems, "Werewolf Club Rules." And "MORERAPS" is a poem that's Joseph Coelho invented to help him remember the different poetic devices that can be used when creating poetry.

A poetic device is a tool or technique used by poets to enhance the meaning, sound, and overall impact of their poems. These devices help to create rhythm, convey emotions, and make the poem more engaging and memorable.

Can you think of any poetic devices? Have you used any before? Pause the video and have a discussion with your partner.

Can you think of any poetic devices and have you used any before? Pause the video and have a chat now.

Welcome back.

I hope you enjoyed that discussion.

I wonder if you've used some poetic devices before.

I bet you have.

Here's an example from Izzy.

Izzy says, "Alliteration is a poetic device that has words close together and that start with the same sound." It is, Izzy and I bet you've used that before.

Ah, and there's Laura.

She says, "I've used a simile in my writing before." Ah, interesting.

Joseph Coelho wrote "MORERAPS" to help him remember which of these? Poets he likes, poem names, or poetic devices.

Which of these did he write "MORERAPS" to help him remember? A, B, or C? Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Okay, let's see if you found the right answer.

So Joseph Coelho wrote "MORERAPS" to help him remember poetic devices.

He wanted to know all the different poetic devices.

And the "MORERAPS" poem, as you'll see in this lesson, helps you to do that.

Here is a list of the different poetic devices that are included in Joseph Coelho's "MORERAPS poem.

We have metaphor, onomatopoeia, rhyme, emotion, repetition, alliteration, personification and simile.

Do you notice anything about this list of poetic devices and the title of the poem? Hmm.

Pause the video and have a chat with your partner.

Do you notice anything about this list of poetic devices and the title of this poem? Perhaps there's a link.

Pause the video and have a chat and see if you spot it now.

Welcome back.

I wonder if you were able to see the link.

Well, how about now? How about now? Does that make it easier for you? I'm sure you can see that each letter at the start of each poetic device is in the same order that "MORERAPS" is.

So M for metaphor, O for onomatopoeia, R for rhyme and "MORERAPS starts with M-O-R.

So this is an acrostic poem.

Let's look at that.

Joseph Coelho invented "MORERAPS" as a way of remembering all the poetic devices we can use when writing poetry.

Each line of the poem starts with one of these poetic devices.

After the poetic device is listed, the poet demonstrates that device on the same line.

Now, "MORERAPS works in a similar way to an acrostic poem.

In an acrostic poem, the first letter of each line spells out a word when read verbally.

So M-O-R-E-R-A-P-S is "MORERAPS." And of course, it's M for metaphor, O for onomatopoeia, R for rhyme.

For example, curled up sleeping, purring loud, amazing pet, precious friend, tiny paws, soft and proud.

What do you think that acrostic poem is all about? Ha, I can see, of course, it's about a cat and the first letter of each line spells out cat, C-A-T.

Let's check your understanding.

What is the name of a poem in which the first letter of each line spells a word? Is it a shape poem, an acrostic poem, or a kenning poem? A, B, or C? Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Okay, let's see if you found the correct answer.

Well, well done if you said B, an acrostic poem.

Yes, an acrostic poem is when the first letter of each line spells a word.

Time for a task.

Write your own acrostic poem for any of these animals.

So you've got a dog, bat, ant and fox.

And remember, an acrostic poem, the first letter of each line spells out a word when read vertically, and I've put my cat example on the screen for you there to use as well.

Curled up sleeping, purring loud.

So that's a C at the start of that line.

Amazing pet, precious friend.

That's an A.

And then tiny paws, soft and Proud.

That's a T, C-A-T, cat.

Okay, you've got this.

Over to you.

Pause the video and write your own acrostic poem for any of those animals now.

Welcome back.

I cannot wait to read your acrostic poems. I wonder, put your hand up if you wrote your acrostic poem about a dog.

Oh, okay.

Bat, ant, fox? Brilliant, okay, let's have a look at an example.

Izzy's is Ant, it's about ant and she says, always busy, never still, tiny worker.

Lovely, Izzy.

Well done.

Okay, let's move on to poetic devices.

Now, a metaphor is a type of poetic device.

It is a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else.

For example, her laughter was music to the boy's ears.

In this example, the laughter isn't actually music.

However, the boy was so happy to hear her laughter that it sounded like music to him.

Therefore, the metaphor captures more emotion than just saying the boy heard her laughter and felt happy.

It really describes how he felt when he heard that laughter.

Now, poets use metaphors as a type of comparison that helps to build a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

An example could be to describe a messy and chaotic classroom by saying "the classroom is a zoo." This is a metaphor because the classroom isn't actually a zoo.

However, it creates the mental image of a very messy room filled with children behaving wildly and not following instructions, like animals.

Therefore, a zoo is a good comparison to make.

Let me just check your understanding.

Which of these would be a good metaphor to use to describe a blanket? Is it A, a warm hug, B, a dusty curtain, or C, a freezing breeze? Which of these would be a good metaphor to use to describe a blanket? Now, we know that a blanket is none of these, but that's what a metaphor is.

Describing something as if it is something else, saying it is something else.

Okay, A, B, or C, pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

I wonder if you got the right answer.

Let's see.

Well, which of these would be a good metaphor to use for describing a blanket? It is, of course, A, a warm hug.

That feeling when a blanket wraps around you is just like a warm hug, and that is why A works perfectly as a metaphor to describe a blanket.

Let's move on to alliteration.

Alliteration is a poetic device that refers to the repetition of the same sound found at the start of words that come close together.

For example, the wild wind whipped through the woods.

You can see all those Ws making that woo sound at the start of one, two, three, four of the words in that sentence.

Poets use alliteration for several different reasons: to grab the reader's attention, to emphasise key ideas and to create rhythm.

Oh, and of course, to create mood.

Alliteration can also be used to create tongue twisters that are interesting and a fun challenge to read.

For example, shiny shells sway in the shimmering sea.

All those, s and sh sounds to me sound like the sea.

In this sentence, five of the words start with either a s or sh sound.

These sounds have been chosen by the poet because they also sound like the noise of the sea, creating a mood.

So if we were at the beach, you could hear the sh sound of the waves crashing onto the beach or repeatedly lapping onto the sand, and that's why the s and sh sound are perfect in this sentence.

Which of these sentences is an example of alliteration? Is it A, trees move in the summer breeze? Is it B, giant trees stand proudly? or C, tall trees twinkle in the twilight.

Which of these is an example of alliteration? Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Okay, let's see if you found the right answer.

Remember, alliteration is where lots of the words that are close together start with the same sound.

So, of course, it is C, tall trees twinkle in the twilight, tall trees twinkle, twilight.

Four words in that sentence, which start with a ta sound.

Time for a task.

Create your own example of alliteration using your name.

Take your name and add other words that start with the same sound.

Challenge your partner to see who can come up with the longest alliterative line.

For example, jumping Jacob juggles juicy jelly.

That's a good example, Jacob.

Well done.

Okay, it's over to you now.

Pause the video and have a go at this task now.

Welcome back.

Let's see how you got on.

Let's look at another example.

This is from Lucas.

Lucas loves looking at lines of luscious lollipops.

Love it, Lucas.

Well done.

And then here's another example from Sam.

Sam swiftly surfed the shimmering sea.

Beautiful.

Let's summarise the learning we've done today.

"MORERAPS" is a poem that Joseph Coelho invented to help him remember the different poetic devices.

A poetic device is a technique used by poets to enhance the meaning, sound, and overall impact of their poems. A metaphor is a word or phrase that is used to describe something as if it is something else.

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound found at the start of words that come close together.

Excellent work today.

I will see you again very soon to continue exploring Joseph Coelho's "MORERAPS" poem.