Dialogue. Dialogue is conversation involving two or more people or characters. In fiction, dialogue is enclosed in quotation marks (“ “) and is often accompanied by tag lines, which are words and phrases such as he said or she replied that tell who is speaking. In poetry, however, dialogue is not always indicated by quotation marks or tag lines. As you read “The Lost Parrot,” determine whether or not the poem contains dialogue.
Symbol. A symbol is something that stands for or represents both itself and something else. In this poem, the lost parrot is a symbol for something else. As you read, think about what the parrot might symbolize.
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• As you read poems such as “The Lost Parrot,” you may notice that the author tells a poetic story using much fewer words than in a prose story. The poem may appear simple on the surface, but each word is carefully chosen to suggest deeper meanings. The poet molds and shapes words to describe objects, experiences, and emotions—either from his or her own life or from observation. The poet uses rhythm, rhyme, sound, imagery, and figures of speech to present ideas in a meaningful way and to provoke an emotional response from the reader. No two people will interpret a poem in the same way. Each reader, based on his or her experiences and insights, may come away from the poem with a unique perspective on the poem’s meaning, but each perspective has to be justified by the words of the poem.
• Science Connection. “The Lost Parrot” is about a boy who is trying to write a poem about a parrot. Parrot is the general name for such birds as cockatoos, macaws, and parakeets. Usually, though, the term parrot refers to a species of fairly large birds with colorful feathers, strong beaks, and fleshy tongues that enable them to mimic words and even sentences. Some types of parrots have been domesticated as pets, but many species continue to live in tropical rain forests and other natural habitats.
“The Lost Parrot” contains words and phrases that create a feeling of tension, loss, and sadness. As you read, fill in a graphic organizer like the one below with the words and phrases that you think help create this feeling.
Have you ever lost someone or something that you cared about? Describe your experience.
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