Transcript Poetic Devices

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The repetition of the first consonant
sound in a word..
It can occur in as few as two words
(“Jack enjoyed the wonderful world”)
◦ Sally sold seashells by the seashore.
◦ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
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The repetition of vowel sounds in a
series of words.
◦ The fat cat was wearing a miniature hat as
he lay down on the mat.
◦ Mike rides his bike to the store for a bag of
rice.
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The repetition of ending sounds in words.
A Dream
In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departedBut a waking dream of life and light
Hath left me broken-hearted.
-Edgar Allen Poe
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Giving inanimate or non-living objects human
characteristics.
◦ The wind spoke to me and told me that rain was on
the way.
◦ The trees danced in the wind.
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The use of words which imitate sound.
•Buzz
•Crack
•Pop
•Fizzle
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A comparison between two objects using
"like", "as", or "than”.
◦ Todd was like a bull in a china shop.
◦ Dennis is quicker than a cheetah.
◦ Amy was as quiet as a mouse.
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A comparison between two dissimilar objects.
Usually the words “is”, “are”, or “was” are
used.
◦ He was a rock.
◦ For me time is money.
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A hyperbole is an exaggeration or
overstatement. It is often meant to be
humorous.
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He inhaled the sandwich.
I have a million things to do.
I had a ton of homework.
If I can’t buy that new game, I will die.
This car goes faster than the speed of light.
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Downplaying a situation.
◦ Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole.
 Jan reassured her mother that the gaping wound on
her leg was just a scratch.
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A figure of speech that combines two words
with opposite meanings.
 Jumbo shrimp, act naturally, calm storm, cold sweat,
good grief
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Eliciting images in the reader’s mind through
sensory and concrete details.
Preludes
The winter evening settles down
With smell of steaks in passageways.
Six o'clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
Of withered leaves about your feet
And newspapers from vacant lots;
The showers beat
On broken blinds and chimney-pots,
And at the corner of the street
A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.
And then the lighting of the lamps.
-T.S. Elliot
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repetition of words or phrases with similar
structure
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The technique of repeating important lines,
words, or phrases of a poem for effect.
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An expression that is particular to a group of
people or culture. Idioms are NOT literal.
◦ Why the long face?
◦ Break a leg.
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Irony illustrates a situation, or a use of
language, involving some kind of
discrepancy.
The result of an action or situation is the
reverse of what is expected.
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Line: similar to a sentence in poetry.
Stanza: a group of lines separated from other
lines by breaks in the poem. Similar to a
paragraph.
Meter: Using a set number of syllables in
each line.
Determining the tone of a poem
 Tone
indicates the writer’s
attitude
Tone is not explained
or expressed directly.
A reader must
“read between the lines”
to feel the author’s attitude
and identify the tone.
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Cautious
Humorous
Affectionate
Hostile
Critical
Objective
Personal
Violent
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Solemn / Serious
Sarcastic
Disapproving
Enthusiastic
Desperate
Pleading
Indifferent
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Mood is the general atmosphere created by
the author’s words.
◦ It is the feeling the reader gets from reading those
words.
◦ It may stay the same, or it may change from
situation to situation.
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Fanciful
Melancholy
Frightening
Mysterious
Frustrating
Joyful
Romantic
• Gloomy
• Sentimental
• Happy
• Sorrowful
 Suspenseful
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atmosphere: e.g. calm, chaotic, etc.
(descriptive of the state of the surroundings)
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The main idea or message of a poem
It is different than the topic
The reader must interpret or infer what the
theme is
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Style of writing in a poem
Determined by the author’s choice of words