Basic Details
Word: Poetry
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Writing arranged in lines, often with rhythm or rhyme, that expresses feelings and ideas; poems as a group.
Synonyms: verse, poems
Antonyms: prose
How to Spell Poetry
Syllables: po - et - ry
Tricky part: It is poet + ry. Students sometimes add an extra e before the r (poetery) or write oa.
Watch out for: poetery, poatry, poettry
Memory tip: Poetry is just poet + ry. The e already sits inside poet, so do not add another.
Idioms and Phrases
- poetry in motion: a person or thing that moves very smoothly and gracefully Example: "The dancer's spins across the stage were poetry in motion."
Usage Examples
Example 1: We read Hindi and English poetry aloud in class every Saturday.
Example 2: Her diary is full of poetry about the sea.
Example 3: Writing poetry helps Aman put his feelings into words.
Fun Fact
A haiku is a short Japanese poem of three lines, which traditionally have five, seven and five syllables.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
poetery
a) e
b) o
c) y
d) t
Show answer
a) e. Poet already gives the only e that the word needs.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. poetry 2. stanzza 3. simily 4. rythm
a) a comparison that uses like or as
b) a regular repeated pattern of sounds or beats
c) writing in lines, often with rhythm or rhyme, that expresses feelings
d) a group of lines forming one section of a poem
Show answer
c) writing in lines, often with rhythm or rhyme, that expresses feelings. Poetry needs no change, but rythm has lost an h, stanzza has an extra z and simily ends in y instead of e.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word poetry as it is used in the sentence:
Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, largely for his poetry.
a) fiction
b) verse
c) drama
d) prose
Show answer
b) verse. Verse is writing in lines with rhythm, which is poetry; prose is ordinary writing.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person who writes poetry is called a ____.
a) potter
b) painter
c) pilot
d) poet
Show answer
d) poet
2. Which of these is a feature often found in poetry?
a) a price tag
b) a map
c) rhyme
d) a recipe
Show answer
c) rhyme
