Key Concepts in Language, Grammar, and Poetry Analysis

Understanding Sentences, Grammar, and Poetic Form

The Building Blocks: Sentences, Subjects, and Predicates

A sentence is a group of words arranged to express a complete thought. Sentences are the fundamental units of written language. Typically, a sentence consists of two main parts: a subject and a predicate.

• The subject is the person, animal, or thing that the sentence is about.
• The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells us something about the subject.

Spanish Spelling Rules for the Letter 'J'

In Spanish, certain spelling rules govern the use of the letter 'j':

• Verb forms with the /x/ sound are written with 'j' if the infinitive form of the verb does not contain a 'g' or 'j'.
• Words ending in -aje or -eje are written with 'j'.
• Words that begin with aje- or eje- are also written with 'j', with a few exceptions, such as agenda, agencia (agency), and agente (agent).

Word Choice: Taboo Words and Euphemisms

Taboo words are words that are generally avoided in conversation because they are considered too harsh, awkward, rude, or offensive. To replace these words, we use euphemisms, which are milder or more indirect words and phrases that convey the same meaning in a less abrasive way.

Creating an Effective Written Report

A written report is a document that provides organized information on a specific topic. To enhance the content, reports often include visual aids such as photographs, drawings, maps, and charts. These elements help to clarify, support, and expand upon the information presented.

An Introduction to Poetry Analysis

Poetic Meter: Syllable Counting in Verse

In poetry, the measure of a line of verse is generally equivalent to its number of syllables. However, there are special rules based on the last word of the verse:

• If the verse ends in a word stressed on the final syllable, one syllable is added to the count.
• If the verse ends in a word stressed on the antepenultimate syllable, one syllable is subtracted from the count.

Additionally, a phenomenon called sinalefa can occur. A sinalefa is the merging of two syllables into one when a word ends in a vowel and the next word begins with a vowel (or 'h').

Types of Verse: Minor Art and Major Art

Verses in poetry can be categorized into two groups based on their length:

• Minor Art (Arte Menor): Verses that have eight syllables or fewer.
• Major Art (Arte Mayor): Verses that have nine syllables or more.

When analyzing a poem, it is essential to consider both the length of the verses and the rhyme scheme.

Understanding Rhyme: Assonance and Consonance

Two lines of poetry rhyme when their last words share similar sounds. There are two primary kinds of rhyme:

• Assonance Rhyme: This occurs when two words have the same vowel sounds but different consonant sounds, starting from the last stressed syllable. For example, the words home and lone.
• Consonant Rhyme: Also known as perfect rhyme, this occurs when two words have identical vowel and consonant sounds from the last stressed syllable onward. For example, the words heart and start.

How to Analyze a Poem's Rhyme Scheme

To analyze the rhyme scheme of a poem, you assign the same letter (starting with 'a') to all the verses that rhyme with each other. The convention is as follows:

• If the verses are Minor Art (8 syllables or less), use a lowercase letter (a, b, c).
• If the verses are Major Art (9 syllables or more), use a capital letter (A, B, C).

Before the letter, you can write the number of syllables in the verse. If a line does not rhyme with any other line in the stanza, it is marked with a hyphen (-).