Themes, subject matter , rhymes etc - SS1 Literature Lesson Note

Elements of poetry/poetic devices:

Themes: The central ideas or messages of a poem. Common themes in Nigerian poetry include love, loss, identity, culture, and social justice.

Subject matter: The topic or topic of a poem. It can be anything, from a personal experience to a historical event to a natural phenomenon.

Rhymes: The repetition of consonant and vowel sounds at the end of words. Rhymes can be used to create rhythm and unity in a poem.

Stanza: A group of lines in a poem that are separated from other groups by a blank line or a change in rhyme scheme. Stanzas can be used to organize a poem's thoughts and ideas.

Metre: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem. Metre can be used to create rhythm and movement in a poem.

Special syntax of poetry: The unique way that poets use words and grammar. Poets may use inversion, repetition, and other poetic devices to create a specific effect.

Here are some examples of poetic devices used by some Nigerian poetry:

Imagery: Poets use imagery to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. For example, in the poem "Africa" by Chinua Achebe, the poet uses the following imagery to describe the beauty of Africa:
"Africa, my angel mother,
I will carry your sunshine in my heart."

Personification: Poets give human qualities to non-human things. For example, in the poem "Song of the Rain" by J.P. Clark-Bekederemo, the poet personifies the rain as a woman:
"Rain, come and wash the city clean.
Rain, come and make the flowers bloom."

Simile: Poets compare two things using the words "like" or "as." For example, in the poem "Harmattan" by Gabriel Okara, the poet compares the harmattan wind to a sharp knife:
"Harmattan wind, you are a sharp knife,
Cutting through my flesh."

Metaphor: Poets compare two things without using the words "like" or "as." For example, in the poem "Mother Africa" by David Diop, the poet compares Africa to a mother:
"Mother Africa, you are my cradle and my tomb."

These are just a few examples of poetic devices that are used by some Nigerian poets. When reading Nigerian poetry, pay attention to the poet's use of language and imagery. This will help you to better understand the poem's meaning and appreciate its beauty.