FINDING

Poetry in Nature
Traditional Japanese Poetry: Haiku and Tanka
 Greetings,
future poets!
Today we will be exploring the
traditional forms of Japanese
poetry: haiku and tanka.
Objectives:
Introduce
01
To introduce the student to the main differences
between Haikus and Tankas, including their
structure, history, and cultural significance.

02
Explore
To explore the ways in which Haikus and Tankas
differ in terms of their themes, emotions, and
imagery.

03
Inspire
To provide examples of both Haikus and Tankas to
showcase their unique qualities.
 Haiku
A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry
consisting of three lines. The first and
third lines contain five syllables, while the
second line contains seven syllables.

Traditionally, haikus focus on nature and

the changing of the seasons, but modern
haikus can explore any topic.
 Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese
poetry that is characterized by its brevity
and focus on nature.

While figurative language is not typically

used in the traditional form of Haiku, it is
not uncommon to see contemporary
poets incorporate similes, metaphors,
and other figurative language
techniques in their modern
Haiku compositions.
When using figurative
language in Haiku...

it is important to remember to keep the poem

concise and to focus on the natural world as
seen below:
Simile
In this example, the leaves falling are compared to
Autumn leaves fall fast fireworks, creating a vivid, explosion of color in the
Like fireworks at a festival reader's mind. This adds depth and complexity to
the poem, while still maintaining the traditional
Nature's celebration Haiku structure and focus on nature.
 Tanka
A Tanka poem is a traditional Japanese poem
that consists of five lines. It is similar to a
Haiku, but with two additional lines.

The first three lines of a Tanka poem contain

five syllables, then seven syllables, and finally
five syllables again for the last two lines.
Tanka poems are often written about
nature and emotions, and they are
meant to evoke a feeling or image in
the reader's mind.

Tanka poems are often written about

nature and emotions, and they are
meant to evoke a feeling or image in the
reader's mind. The poem can be read
vertically or horizontally, and it is often
accompanied by a painting or drawing.
Figurative language In this tanka poem, cherry
blossoms are used as a symbol
use in Tanka... for the beauty and transience of
life. The delicate pink petals
represent the fleeting nature of
our existence, reminding us to
appreciate each
Like many other forms of poetry, tanka often moment before it passes.
employs figurative language to convey
meaning and create vivid imagery as seen The wind is also symbolic,
below: representing the passage of time
and the inevitability of change.
Cherry blossoms bloom Overall, the poem encourages us
Pink petals dance in the wind to treasure the present and
embrace life which is fleeting.
Life's fleeting beauty
Reminding us to cherish
Each moment, before it's gone Personification
Haiku focuses on a single moment in nature, and
the use of concrete sensory images, to convey a
feeling or emotion.

Where Japanese haiku uses cutting words such as

ka, keri, ya, to create a juxtaposition between two
images or ideas, in the English language, this
technique is often achieved by using a
punctuation mark, such as a dash or ellipsis.
Tanka poems often have a more personal
or emotional focus than haikus, and they
can include metaphors, similes, and other
literary devices.

While tankas also often focus on nature, they

can be more expansive than haikus and may
explore a wider range of themes.
 Which one will you write,

Thank you!
a haiku or a tanka poem?