Lesson video

Hello everyone, it's great to be here with you.

My name is Ms. Afzal and I'm very pleased to be here together because today we're going to be exploring some poetry.

In particular, we're going to be exploring a poem called "Cosmic Disco." Yep, you've heard it, "Cosmic Disco." It comes from a collection of poetry called "Cosmic Disco." It's by Grace Nichols.

So I'd like you to pause now while you go and get your copy of the book.

While you're doing that, I'm gonna just take a look at this one cover.

Look at that, oh, I just love those words, "Cosmic Disco." It's a lot of fun and we're gonna find out more about that in our lesson today.

Are you back? Yep, great.

So you've got your copy of the book, you are ready, hopefully you're enthusiastic, you're all set full of ideas and open to exploring this poem.

Let's do it.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can identify a range of poetic devices.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them one at a time.

My turn, your turn.

Personification, metaphor, alliteration, imagery.

Great stuff, I loved hearing those loud and clear.

Let's make sure we think about these words, listen out for them, and let's find out more about them right now.

Personification is describing a non-living thing as if it is a person.

A metaphor is a poetic device that makes a comparison between two things by stating that one thing is another, creating vivid imagery and deeper layers of meaning.

Alliteration is when words that begin with the same sound are placed close together.

And imagery is the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener.

I can't wait to find out more about these fantastic keywords.

I hope you are excited about 'em too.

Here's our lesson today, "Poetic devices used in 'Cosmic Disco' by Grace Nichols." We'll begin by finding out about poetic devices including imagery, and then we'll move on to poetic devices including alliteration.

Let's begin our lesson.

So what do we know about the poem "Cosmic Disco"? "Cosmic Disco" was written by Grace Nichols, the author and poet.

She was born in Guyana in the Caribbean and moved to live in the UK in 1977.

The poem is linked to the science of the stars and the universe.

It describes the universe as a dance party where various elements of nature are depicted as dancers.

This poem creates a sense of awe and wonder in the natural world.

We know that poetry comes in many different forms. Poems can be written to entertain or evoke a particular emotion or feeling, like awe and wonder, and awe is a feeling of reverence or admiration for something beautiful, majestic, or extraordinary.

I wonder when you have ever felt awe.

Is there something that you've experienced where you are awe-struck? You saw something so beautiful, so amazing, so extraordinary.

Poets can use a range of poetic devices or techniques to help enhance the meaning or impact of their poems. This could include how they use language, rhyme, repetition, or punctuation.

Each device serves a specific purpose, whether it's comparing two unlike things, giving human qualities to non-living things, or appealing to the sensors through vivid descriptions.

So poets really choose carefully which devices or techniques they are going to use.

Imagery is the writer's use of highly descriptive and vivid language that appeals to the senses to paint a picture.

It includes metaphors, similes, and personification.

By making specific language choices, poets can enhance meaning in their poems and create a specific impression.

Let's look at some of the devices used in "Cosmic Disco." First, let's read the poem "Cosmic Disco" again.

So just pause here, settle in, and read the poem "Cosmic Disco" one more time, enjoy.

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

So it's different to a simile, which is a way of comparing something using the words like or as.

For example, you might say, "She was as fast as a cheetah." So that's as simile using the word as.

So comparing two things, a person who runs fast compared to an animal that can run very fast like a cheetah.

The central metaphor of "Cosmic Disco" compares the universe to a dance party.

What other comparisons are made in the poem? Think about the dance floor, the lights, the girls and boys.

So pause the video here and talk to someone nearby about what other comparisons are made in the poem.

Okay, good to be back with you and I hope you enjoyed sharing some of the comparisons made in the poem.

And I'm wondering, do you like the metaphors that have been used? Do you like the comparisons that Grace Nichols has made? Let's see what Jun has to say.

"I like how space has been compared to a dance floor.

It suggests the way stars and planets move is like dancing." Love that one, Jun.

What about Alex? "I think it is funny how boys and girls are moving like planets or stars with the force gravity.

It makes me think of people moving in groups of boys and girls at a disco, around each other or towards each other." The language and comparisons used may create different pictures in our minds because we are all unique and have different experiences, and that is the beauty of life and of us all being individuals.

Check for understanding, what is a metaphor? A way of comparing something using the words like or as.

The repetition of sounds at the beginning of words, like endless echo.

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

So pause the video while you decide what is a metaphor and share with someone nearby.

Well done if you selected answer C, for sure.

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

Personification is a way of describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human.

"The Sun smiles warmly, casting its golden rays upon the Earth." "The Moon gazes serenely, casting its gentle glow upon a sleeping world." The actual Sun cannot smile and the actual Moon cannot gaze.

It doesn't have eyes.

So these are examples of personification.

The personification in these two sentences helps the Sun and Moon seem more human and gives the impression that they're kind and generous sources of light.

And now can you find any examples of personification in the poem "Cosmic Disco"? So pause the video here, return to the poem, and share with someone nearby any examples of personification that you can find.

Okay, what did you come up with? Maybe something like this.

In "Cosmic Disco," the trees are described as rocking, as if they're dancing along to the music.

This is personification.

It is giving the trees human characteristics.

The Moon is described as waltzing.

It can't actually dance like a human does.

But personification helps the nature and celestial bodies, the trees and moons, to seem more alive.

Check for understanding.

Which sentence shows personification? "The universe is a grand celestial symphony." "The universe tells its secrets to the stars." "The universe is infinite." Pause the video while you decide which sentence shows personification.

Well done if you selected sentence B, "The universe tells its secrets to the stars." The universe isn't able to speak and it doesn't whisper its secrets to the stars, so this is an example of personification.

And now it's time for your task.

What kind of poetic devices have been used in the following sentence? "The Sun whispers secrets to the planets, guiding them on their celestial journey through the vast expanse of space." And you might like to think about imagery, personification, or metaphor.

So pause the video while you decide what kind of poetic devices have been used in this sentence and share with someone nearby.

Okay, so what did you come up with? Maybe you spotted these examples of personification.

The Sun whispering and guiding the planets.

The Sun doesn't speak, either through whispering or guiding.

Did you come up with this visual imagery, the vast expanse of space? These poetic devices create an impression of a kind and wise Sun guiding the planets on their cosmic voyage.

It creates an atmosphere of majesty and mystery.

And now it's time for us to explore poetic devices including alliteration.

Poems are often written to be read aloud.

This means the sounds that words make is very important.

Poets might use devices such as repetition, rhyme, or alliteration to enhance the sound of the poem read aloud.

When Nichols uses the word regrouping in the poem to describe the stars on the dance floor, the word grouping is repeated from the line before.

The prefix re- means again.

It shows this is a process that is happening over and over again.

Try reading lines 6 to 11 aloud to emphasise this repetition.

Pause the video while you do this.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed emphasising that repetition in those lines.

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

"In the night sky, twinkling stars twirl, telling tales of tranquillity." "The circular Sun is a sizzling sphere of scorching splendour." It is the repetition of the sound, not the spelling, which creates alliteration.

It can help create rhythm and enhance the sound and flow of the poem.

Can you find any examples of alliteration in the poem? Pause the video while you see if you can spot some examples of alliteration in the poem and tell someone nearby.

I am wondering, did you find the reference to Saturn and also to the shirts? Say these lines aloud and emphasise the repeated sounds.

Pause the video while you do this.

I hope you enjoyed emphasising those repeated sounds, that alliteration.

Check for understanding.

Which sentence contains alliteration? "The Moon whispers secrets to the night." "The Moon hangs in the sky like a glowing lantern." "The moonlight sparkle softly, spreading its silver glow." Pause the video while you decide which sentence contains alliteration.

Well done if you selected the final sentence.

The sparkles, softly, spreading, and the silver all have the same sound at the beginning.

Remember that poets can use these poetic devices or techniques to help enhance the meaning or impact of their poems. In the poem "Cosmic Disco," Grace Nichols has used imagery, metaphors, personification, and alliteration.

She has used these poetic devices to help create a particular impression.

Re-read the poem "Cosmic Disco" and focus on the impression and atmosphere it creates.

Pause the video while you do this.

So how would you describe the impression or the atmosphere created in the poem? Let's see what Jun has to say.

"I think the poem creates an impression of cosmic wonder and awe.

It is magical and inspiring." Okay, yeah, I feel that too, Jun.

What about Alex? "I think the imagery and language choices create an atmosphere of joy and excitement, as if the entire universe is alive with movement and energy." Oh my goodness, I'm feeling that too, Alex.

Thanks for sharing those answers.

I wonder what impression or atmosphere was created in the poem for you.

It might be something similar to what we've heard from Jun and Alex, or maybe something quite different, and all of that is fine and welcome.

Check for understanding, true or false.

Poets make specific language choices to create a specific impression.

Pause the video while you decide if that is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

Now I'd like you to justify your answer.

The words Grace Nichols has chosen create an image of energy and life.

Grace Nichols has chosen words so that they rhyme.

Pause the video while you decide which of these justifies your answer.

Well done if you selected the first statement.

Absolutely, Grace Nichols has chosen words that create an image of energy and life, and this really very nicely and directly justifies your earlier answer.

And now it's time for your next task.

What kind of poetic devices are used in the following sentence? "The Sun is a blazing beacon of light, a radiant ruler reigning over the cosmic kingdom of the solar system." And you might like to think about imagery, personification, metaphor, or alliteration.

So pause the video while you decide what kind of poetic devices are used in this sentence and share with someone nearby.

Okay, good to be back with you.

So what did you spot? What are the poetic devices used in this sentence? Did you spot the metaphor? "The Sun is a blazing beacon of light," so we are saying it is something else.

Did you spot the alliteration? The blazing beacon, the radiant ruler reigning, the cosmic kingdom, and the solar system.

These poetic devices create an impression of the Sun as a dominant force ruling over the solar system with power and brilliance.

The alliteration adds emphasis and rhythm to the description of the Sun.

In our lesson today, "Poetic devices used in 'Cosmic Disco' by Grace Nichols," we have covered the following.

Poets can use a range of poetic devices to enhance the meaning or impact of their poems. Personification is describing a non-living thing as if it is a person.

A metaphor is a way of describing something, of saying that it is something else.

Imagery is the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener.

Alliteration is when words that begin with the same sound are placed close together.

I've really enjoyed this lesson and sharing these poetic devices with you, and I love how you were exploring them and spotting them.

The personification, the metaphor, the imagery, and the alliteration.

And I'm really looking forward to exploring more poetry with you another time.

Bye for now.