Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

Alliteration Alliteration

The repetition of the same, or very The repetition of the same, or very similar consonant sounds in words similar consonant sounds in words that are close together. that are close together.

SSing no ing no ssad ad ssongs for me.ongs for me.

Assonance Assonance

The repetition of similar vowel The repetition of similar vowel sounds in words close together.sounds in words close together.

Till the shTill the shiining scning scyythes went far and thes went far and wwiidede

And cut it down to drAnd cut it down to dryy..

ConsonanceConsonance

Repetition of final consonance Repetition of final consonance sounds.sounds.

Example: east/westExample: east/west

ImageryImagery Language that appeals to the senses (sight, hearing, taste, Language that appeals to the senses (sight, hearing, taste,

touch and smell).touch and smell).

Visual ImageryVisual Imagery: From "The Widow's Lament in Springtime" -William Carlos Williams: From "The Widow's Lament in Springtime" -William Carlos Williams

                  masses of flowers                masses of flowers                load the cherry branches                     load the cherry branches                     and color some bushes           and color some bushes           yellow and some red.  yellow and some red. 

                                                                                                                  Auditory ImageryAuditory Imagery: From "Dover Beach" -  Matthew Arnold: From "Dover Beach" -  Matthew Arnold

Listen! You hear the grating roarListen! You hear the grating roarOf pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,At their return, up the high strand,At their return, up the high strand,Begin, and cease, and then again begin,Begin, and cease, and then again begin,With tremulous cadence slow, and bringWith tremulous cadence slow, and bringThe eternal note of sadness in.  The eternal note of sadness in.                                                        

Meter Meter A pattern of stressed and unstressed A pattern of stressed and unstressed

syllables in poetry. syllables in poetry.

Mood Mood

Feeling created in the reader by a literary Feeling created in the reader by a literary work.work.

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia

The use of a word whose sound imitates The use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning (Clang, Buzz, or suggests its meaning (Clang, Buzz, Drip). Drip).

OxymoronOxymoron

A combination of contradictory words, A combination of contradictory words, where one is used to describe the other where one is used to describe the other (Pretty ugly, same difference, seriously (Pretty ugly, same difference, seriously funny).funny).

RhymeRhyme

Recurring identical or similar Recurring identical or similar word sounds within or at the word sounds within or at the

ends of lines of verse.ends of lines of verse.

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

The pattern of rhyme used in a poem, The pattern of rhyme used in a poem, generally indicated by matching generally indicated by matching lowercase letters to show which lines lowercase letters to show which lines rhyme.rhyme.

Little Miss MuffetLittle Miss Muffet aaSat on a tuffet,Sat on a tuffet, aaEating her curds and whey;Eating her curds and whey; bb

Along came a spider, Along came a spider, ccAnd sat down beside herAnd sat down beside her ccAnd Frightened Miss Muffet away.And Frightened Miss Muffet away. bb

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

The Germ by Ogden NashThe Germ by Ogden Nash

A mighty creature is the gA mighty creature is the germerm,,Though smaller than the Though smaller than the

pachydpachydermerm..His customary dwelling plHis customary dwelling placeace

Is deep within the human rIs deep within the human raceace..His childish pride he often plHis childish pride he often pleaseseasesBy giving people strange disBy giving people strange diseaseseases..

Do you, my poppet, feel infDo you, my poppet, feel infirmirm??You probably contain a gYou probably contain a germerm..

RhythmRhythm

A musical quality in poetry produced by a A musical quality in poetry produced by a pattern of stressed and unstressed pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.syllables.

StanzaStanza

A group of lines in poetry, similar to a A group of lines in poetry, similar to a paragraph in prose.paragraph in prose.

Little Miss MuffetLittle Miss MuffetSat on a tuffet,Sat on a tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey;Eating her curds and whey;

Along came a spider, Along came a spider, And sat down beside herAnd sat down beside herAnd Frightened Miss Muffet away.And Frightened Miss Muffet away.

Symbol Symbol

A person, place, object, or action that A person, place, object, or action that stands for something outside itself.stands for something outside itself.

An Owl can symbolize: An Owl can symbolize:

intelligence intelligence brilliance brilliance perspective perspective intuition intuition quick-wit quick-wit independence independence wisdom wisdom protection protection mystery mystery power power

ToneTone

The writer’s attitude toward his or The writer’s attitude toward his or her work. It may be angry, sad, her work. It may be angry, sad, humorous, etc.humorous, etc.

Quick tip: think Quick tip: think tone of voicetone of voice..

Poetic FormsPoetic Forms

BalladBallad

A ballad is a poem which tells a A ballad is a poem which tells a story. Ballads are usually written in story. Ballads are usually written in four-line stanzas and are set to four-line stanzas and are set to music. music.

Mother dear, may I go downtownMother dear, may I go downtown

Instead of out to play,Instead of out to play,

And march the streets of BirminghamAnd march the streets of Birmingham

In a Freedom March today?In a Freedom March today?

ElegyElegy An elegy is a poem which states the poet’s An elegy is a poem which states the poet’s

sadness about the death of an important sadness about the death of an important person. In the famous elegy “O Captain, My person. In the famous elegy “O Captain, My Captain,” Walt Whitman writes about the Captain,” Walt Whitman writes about the death of Abraham Lincoln.death of Abraham Lincoln.

HaikuHaiku

Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry which presents a picture of nature. A which presents a picture of nature. A haiku poem is three lines in length. haiku poem is three lines in length. The first line is five syllables; the The first line is five syllables; the second, seven; and the third, five.second, seven; and the third, five.

Water tumbles downWater tumbles down

In a gently flowing stream.In a gently flowing stream.

Over rocks it trips.Over rocks it trips.

Free VerseFree Verse

Free verse is poetry which does not require meter or a rhyme Free verse is poetry which does not require meter or a rhyme scheme. Free verse poetryscheme. Free verse poetry should not read or sound like prose. It should not read or sound like prose. It should contain patterns, stanzas and imagery.should contain patterns, stanzas and imagery.

Sunday Night Meltdown Sunday Night Meltdown by Kristine O'Connell Georgeby Kristine O'Connell George

Suddenly rememberingSuddenly remembering(on Sunday night)(on Sunday night)that I have homeworkthat I have homeworkdue Monday morning.due Monday morning.The end of my weekend,The end of my weekend,like the end of a Popsicle:like the end of a Popsicle:instead of one last lick --instead of one last lick --a taste of stick.a taste of stick.

LimerickLimerick

A limerick is a humorous verse of five A limerick is a humorous verse of five lines. Lines one, two, and five rhyme, lines. Lines one, two, and five rhyme, as do lines three and four. as do lines three and four.

There once was an old man from Esser,There once was an old man from Esser,Whose knowledge grew lesser and lesser.Whose knowledge grew lesser and lesser.

It at last grew so small,It at last grew so small,He knew nothing at all,He knew nothing at all,And now he's a college professor.And now he's a college professor.

Lyric PoemLyric Poem

A lyric poem is a poem that expresses A lyric poem is a poem that expresses the personal feelings or thoughts of a the personal feelings or thoughts of a poet. They are usually short and musical.poet. They are usually short and musical.

My Heart Leaps Up When I BeholdMy Heart Leaps Up When I BeholdMy heart leaps up when I beholdMy heart leaps up when I behold

A rainbow in the sky;A rainbow in the sky;

So was it when my life began;So was it when my life began;

So is it now I am a man;So is it now I am a man;

So be it when I shall grow old.So be it when I shall grow old.

NarrativesNarratives

A poem or other form of writing that A poem or other form of writing that tells a story.tells a story.

SonnetSonnet A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem which A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem which

states a poet’s personal feelings. Each states a poet’s personal feelings. Each line in a sonnet is 10 syllables in length.line in a sonnet is 10 syllables in length.

CoupletCoupletPair of lines of meter in poetry Pair of lines of meter in poetry and verse. It usually consists and verse. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and of two lines that rhyme and

have the same meter.have the same meter.

`Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.