Shape poetry, also known as concrete poetry or calligrams, is a type of poem where the physical layout and form of the words is part of the intended meaning. There are two main types of shape poetry: outline poems, where the lines of words form an outlined shape related to the topic, and drawing poems, where the lines of words are used to create the lines of a drawing. The ancient Greeks are credited with enhancing poetry by arranging words in visually pleasing ways as early as the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. In the 1950s, a group of Brazilian poets called Noigandres held an exhibition of their work and defined concrete poetry through a manifesto stating that the structure of a poem is its content.

2. 
As the namesuggestsdescribes anobject
and is writtenin the shapeof thatobject. It is
sometimescalled a “Concrete Poem” or a
“Calligram”.
What is a Shape
Poem?

3. It has something to do with the physical
form of words on the paper. Whilewords,
writing style and literary devices may all
impact themeaning of thepoem, the physical
form of the poem takes is also of significance.

4. 
Used by theancient Greeks wherethey began
to enhancethemeaning of poetryby arranging
theircharactersin visuallypleasing ways during
the 3rd and 2nd centuries.
Long LivedShape
Poetry

5. 
The name “ConcretePoetry” however is from the
1950s when a groupof Brazilian Poets calledthe
“Noigandres” heldan international exhibitionof
their work and developedamanifestoto definethe
style:
Long LivedShape
Poetry

6. 
STRUCTURE = CONTENT

7. 
OUTLINEPOEM
A visualstructure that reflects the
subjectof the poemthat fillsin anoutlinedshape
relatingto the topicof the poem.
Types of Shape Poetry:

8. 

9. 

10. 
DRAWINGPOEM
This uses the lines ofwords to make
the lines of thedrawing.
Types of Shape Poetry:

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12. 

13. 
Thinkof a topic thatis notdifficultto do.
Jot down ideas thatwould come into mind thendecide whichone
is to be used.
Once you’ve decided, thinkof words thatmay describe or deliver
your ideas.
In creating OutlinePoems, onemay create a linefirst thenfillthe
space inside the drawing.
How to achieve the manifesto?

14. 
In DrawingPoems, create sticklines thatmay serve as a pattern.Fill
in thewords on the lines.
Rhymes are not necessary and so are punctuationmarks.
Rememberin writing Shape Poems thatwe read from left to right,
top to bottom to allow readers to understand whereto begin
reading.
Avoid forcing the image. Play with words andlet your
imaginationhelp youcreate your Shape Poem.

15. 
Grab a pair. Together with yourpartner create 1
Outline Poem and1 DrawingPoem on a 1 whole
sheet ofpaper. Youonlyhave 5 minutes. Papers will be
collected so don’tforget to write your names.

Let’s give it one more try!

16. Nowthatyou havelearnedthebasicconcepts,it is time to
test your knowledge.On a¼ sheet of paperanswer theitems
given.
Theevaluationis composedof 10-items, Part1 is afive-
item Identificationtype whilePart2 is afive-item Modified True
orFalse type ofexam.Youonly have10minutestofinish the
evaluation.Goodluck! 
Evaluation Time!

17. Part1–Identification
1-2.Identifythe2typesofShapePoems
3.Thetime (centuries)whentheGreeksenhancepoetry.
4.What doyoucallthegroupofBrazilianPoets?
5.WhatwasthenamegiventoShapePoetryintheyear 1950?
Part 2- ModifiedTrueorFalse
6.ShapePoemisalsocalleda Calligram.Trueor False?
7.Outlinepoemuseslinesofwordstomake thebasicoutline.Trueor False?
8.Drawingpoemfillstheshape.Trueor False?
9.Greeks begintoenhancetheirdrawingsinvisuallypleasingways.Trueor False?
10.Weread fromlefttoright,toptobottom.Trueor False?

18. 
Pass your paper tothe center
aisle then pass it forward.
Time is up!