Pbs Learning Media: Elements of Poetry

Discover how literary techniques like figurative language, imagery, and symbolism contribute to the overall meaning of a poem. Explore how a poet establishes and builds on a theme and the difference between tone and mood. Through a close reading of Maya Angelou's famous poem "Caged Bird" (1983), practice unpacking the language of poetry while learning about some of the various tools a writer can utilize when writing a poem.