Poetic Devices
There are many ways of creating effects in poetry. This is part of a poet’s style of writing. A poet “plays” with words in order to create an image or a particular sound.
ALLITERATION - This is when two or more words in close connection begin with the same letter or sound and affect the ear with an echoing sound.
Eg: Betty bought a bit of butter
To the tick of two clocks
SIBILANCE - Alliteration using an 's' or 'sh' sound to make a hissing effect.
Eg: [The snake] sipped with his straight mouth, softly drank through his straight gums, into his slack long body, silently.
ASSONANCE - This is when vowel sounds (i.e. a,e,i,o,u) are repeated in a sequence of sounds close to each other.
Eg: The road was long and lovely.
Low sounds by the shore.
COMPARISON - Looking at similarities in a poem.
TYPES OF COMPARISON:
a) Metaphor - This is when a direct link is made between 2 things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Eg: You’re an angel
He blazed a trail through the town
b) Simile - When one thing is compared to another using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Eg: He ran as fast as lightening
You’re like an angel
CONTRAST - Looking at the differences in a poem.
ONOMATOPOEIA - This is when the sound of the word suggests its meaning (i.e. the sounds imitate what is being described).
Eg: buzz, squeal, click, howl, drip, cuckoo, bash, etc.
PERSONIFICATION - This is when human features or qualities are given to non-human objects.
Eg: The clouds were in a rage
The tree bowed to the might of the wind
PUN - This is a play on the double meaning of a word or phrase.
Eg: First come, first severed.
Isabelle is a belle.
OXYMORON - A contradictory phrase.
Eg: Cruel kindness
Slow fast
PARADOX - Similar to an oxymoron but is not contained within a single phrase.
Eg: The child is the father of the man
Cowards die many times before their deaths
TONE - The feelings expressed by the poet in the poem. What mood or atmosphere does the poem create?
Eg: Nostalgia, anger, frustration, sadness . . ., etc.
ENJAMBEMENT - Run-on lines
Eg: … no shadow thrown
That might turn out a man or woman, not
A footfall tapping secrecies of stone.
ALLITERATION - This is when two or more words in close connection begin with the same letter or sound and affect the ear with an echoing sound.
Eg: Betty bought a bit of butter
To the tick of two clocks
SIBILANCE - Alliteration using an 's' or 'sh' sound to make a hissing effect.
Eg: [The snake] sipped with his straight mouth, softly drank through his straight gums, into his slack long body, silently.
ASSONANCE - This is when vowel sounds (i.e. a,e,i,o,u) are repeated in a sequence of sounds close to each other.
Eg: The road was long and lovely.
Low sounds by the shore.
COMPARISON - Looking at similarities in a poem.
TYPES OF COMPARISON:
a) Metaphor - This is when a direct link is made between 2 things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Eg: You’re an angel
He blazed a trail through the town
b) Simile - When one thing is compared to another using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Eg: He ran as fast as lightening
You’re like an angel
CONTRAST - Looking at the differences in a poem.
ONOMATOPOEIA - This is when the sound of the word suggests its meaning (i.e. the sounds imitate what is being described).
Eg: buzz, squeal, click, howl, drip, cuckoo, bash, etc.
PERSONIFICATION - This is when human features or qualities are given to non-human objects.
Eg: The clouds were in a rage
The tree bowed to the might of the wind
PUN - This is a play on the double meaning of a word or phrase.
Eg: First come, first severed.
Isabelle is a belle.
OXYMORON - A contradictory phrase.
Eg: Cruel kindness
Slow fast
PARADOX - Similar to an oxymoron but is not contained within a single phrase.
Eg: The child is the father of the man
Cowards die many times before their deaths
TONE - The feelings expressed by the poet in the poem. What mood or atmosphere does the poem create?
Eg: Nostalgia, anger, frustration, sadness . . ., etc.
ENJAMBEMENT - Run-on lines
Eg: … no shadow thrown
That might turn out a man or woman, not
A footfall tapping secrecies of stone.