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What makes a poem … a poem? - Melissa Kovacs

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

What exactly makes a poem … a poem? Poets themselves have struggled with this question, often using metaphors to approximate a definition. Is a poem a little machine? A firework? An echo? A dream? Melissa Kovacs shares three recognizable characteristics of most poetry.

What does the Dartmouth study mentioned in the video suggest about the nature of poetry? Were you surprised by the results of the study?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Melissa Kovacs
  • Director Richard O'Connor
  • Producer Richard O'Connor
  • Animator Taisiya Zaretskaya, Phil Powers
  • Illustrator Taisiya Zaretskaya
  • Composer Gareth Averill
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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