What are the What are the

Poetic Poetic Devices?Devices?

Slide Show Created By:

Paula Trapani

LRMS Librarian

IImagerymageryThe mental pictures created

by a piece of writing

Example:

Folks sway in the Palace aisles

grinning and stomping and out of breath,

From Out of the DustOut of the Dust p. 13-14, “On Stage”

SimileSimileA phrase that compares two

things using “like” or “as”

Example:

Right handplaying notes sharp as

tongues,

From Out of the DustOut of the Dust p. 13-14, “On Stage”

MetaphorMetaphor

A phrase that compares two things without using “like” or “as”Example:

That isheaven.

How supremely heaven

playing pianocan be.

From Out of the DustOut of the Dust p. 13-14, “On Stage”

PersonificatiPersonificationon

When human traits or characteristics are given to inanimate objects or

abstract notions

Example:

When I point my fingers at the keys,

the music

springs straight out of me.

From Out of the DustOut of the Dust p. 13-14, “On Stage”

RhymeRhyme

Example:

A Student's Prayer A Student's Prayer by Anonymous

Now I lay me down to rest.I pray I pass tomorrow's test.If I should die before I wake,that's one less test I'll have to take.

Words at the end of lines of poetry

that sound the same.

AlliterationAlliterationThe repetition of the first consonant

sound in a group of words

Example:

If Ma could put her arm across my shouldersometime,or stroke back my hairor sing me to sleep, making the soft sounds, the reassuring noises,that no matter how brittle and sharp life seemed,no matter how brittle and sharp she seemed,she was still my ma who loved me…

From Out of the DustOut of the Dust ( (p. 148, “Motherless”)

AssonanceAssonance

Example:

“…“…the rare and radiant maiden the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore…” whom the angels named Lenore…”

From “The Raven”

by Edgar Allen Poe

The repetition of vowel sounds in a group of words.

HyperboleHyperbole

Example:

Why does a boy who’s fast as a jetWhy does a boy who’s fast as a jet

Take all day—and sometimes two—Take all day—and sometimes two—

To get to school?To get to school?

By: John Ciardi (from “Speed Adjustments”)

A figure of speech involving exaggeration to help create a desired

image.

IdiomIdiom

Examples:

•Raining cats and dogsRaining cats and dogs

•Teach an old dog new tricksTeach an old dog new tricks

•Skating on thin iceSkating on thin ice

•A day late and a dollar shortA day late and a dollar short

•Air your dirty laundry in publicAir your dirty laundry in public

A phrase or expression that means something different from what the words

actually say. (Usually only understandable to a particular group of people.)

OnomatopoeiOnomatopoeiaa

Use of a word that is an actual imitation of the sound it is referring to

Example:

Swoosh, swishpaddling down a creeksplish, splash, whumpa fish jumps on me

By: Lacey

(a student at Langley Meadows school in Canada)