Poetic Devices

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Poetic Devices
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Poetic Devices What are they? Why are they so
special?

• Poetic devices fit into the category of
  figurative language.
• They can DEFINITELY be used in more than JUST
  poetry.

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Simile

• A comparison of two things uses the words like
  or as.
• Examples
• My mind is like an open book.
• He sprinted as fast as a cheetah to the finish
  line.
• Buster barks like broken alarm clock.

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Alliteration

• In a line, more than one word begins with the
  same consonant letter.
• Example
• Busy Buzzing Bees
• Witches fly west in the winter.
• The savory smell of seasoned steak on the grill
  made my mouth salivate.

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Metaphor

• Compares one thing to another by stating that
  something IS something else.
• Example
• White gleaming stars are diamonds in the midnight
  sky.
• The snow is a white, fluffy blanket covering the
  field.
• Sam is King Kong when hes mad.

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Personification

• Giving a nonhuman thing human characteristics.
• Examples
• The bare branches grabbed me as I ran through the
  woods.
• The collie seemed to smile as his owner rubbed
  his ears.
• The popcorn jumped right out of the popping
  machine.

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Onomatopoeia

• Words that sound like noises
• Examples
• Boom! Crash! Quack!
• Moo! Shhh! Crackle!

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Repetition

• When words, phrases, or entire lines of a poem
  are repeated.
• Usually words are repeated to help make a point
  or create a mood.
• Examples
• Repeating one word (sometimes at the end of a
  line)
• Repeating a line (usually the last line of a
  stanza)

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Hyperbole

• Using exaggeration to make a point.
• Examples
• Im so hungry I could eat a whole chicken!
• It rained buckets during the game this morning.
• Megan was so mad fume rose from her head.

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Rhyme

• Words or phrases that end or sound like they end
  the same.
• Examples
• Mop up that slop!!
• There goes the rabbit, Grab it!!
• Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what
  you are.
• Do not Hop on Pop!

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Imagery

• Using descriptive language (five senses) to help
  paint a picture in the readers mind.
• Using Imagery is very similar to using Show,
  Dont tell in writing. Instead of saying, It
  was Halloween or The sunset was pretty, we can
  describe the scene using imagery.
• Examples
• Giggling and yelling, straw-filled scarecrows,
  pretty princesses, mean monsters, and other
  creatures paraded down the street with extended
  candy bags to welcoming porch lights in search of
  the best sweets.
• The girls gazed at the beautiful hues of fiery
  orange, lemon yellow, prom dress pink, and a
  splash of grape purple in the sunset over the
  horizon.