Prose is the kind of writing you see in a story or a novel. Poetry is different from prose. Poets use a small number of words to express their feelings and ideas. They often arrange the words in lines. Look at the line breaks in this passage from “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich”:

Poetry also has a musical sound. This comes from rhythm, or a pattern of beats. One form of rhythm is meter, which is a pattern of stressed and unstressed sounds. To get an idea of what meter is like, make a loud clap and then a soft clap. Continue the pattern of beats.

Sound is important in poetry. It helps communicate the mood, or feeling, of a poem. It also helps express a poem’s meaning.

Practice Together

With the class, read aloud “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich.” Listen as you clap out the rhythm. Locate each strong beat, or stressed sound. Notice that the rhythm, or beat, is quick and lively. This adds to the silly, playful mood of the poem. Discuss how the rhythm adds to the meaning, too.

Try It!

Analyze a Poem With a partner, find a short poem in a book or magazine. Read the poem aloud together. Clap out the rhythm and locate each strong beat. Then discuss the poem:

• • What does the poem mean?

• • What is the mood, or feeling, of the poem?

• • How does the rhythm add to the mood? How does it add to the meaning?

When you read the poem aloud, emphasize the rhythm.

Read a Poem With your partner, read the poem aloud for the class. Emphasize the rhythm. Then tell about the poem.