1. LITERARY DEVICES
used in Poetry

2. METER a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables ´ for stressed
˘ for unstressed

3. RHYME SCHEME pattern of end rhymes in a poem
To indicate the rhyme scheme of a poem, use a letter of the alphabet for each rhyme Ex) aabb
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower,
But only so an hour.

4. END RHYME rhymes at the end of lines
Ex) If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.
~ Emily Dickinson

5. INTERNAL RHYME rhymes within a line
Ex) Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore – While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door –
Only this and nothing more.”
~ Edgar Allan Poe

6. APPROXIMATE RHYME
rhymes involving sounds that are similar but not exactly the same
Ex) Leave/Live or Pain/Again

7. STANZA a group of consecutive lines in a poem that form a single unit
expresses a unit of thought
stanza = an Italian word for “stopping place” or “place to rest”

8. REFRAIN a repeated sound, word, phrase, line, or group of lines
used to build rhythm or provide emphasis
Ex) “coming to America” in the song “America” by Neil Diamond

9. SPEAKER the voice talking to us in a poem
best to think of voice as a character the poet has created
character could be a child, a woman, a man, an animal, or an object; it is best to think of voice as a character the poet has created, not the actual poet

10. EXTENDED METAPHOR
a metaphor that is extended, or developed, over several lines of writing or even throughout an entire work
Ex) “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

11. METAPHOR
a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing
does NOT use like or as
Ex) She has a heart of stone.
He is a bear in the morning.

12. SIMILE
a comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles
Ex) When you see me sitting quietly, Like a sack left on the shelf, Don’t think I need your chattering. I’m listening to myself…
~ from “On Aging,” by Maya Angelou

13. ALLITERATION
the repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together
usually occurs at the beginning of words
Helps establish mood, emphasize words, and serve as a memory aid
Ex) nodded, nearly napping

14. ASSONANCE
the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together
Ex) They are death’s snowbound sailors; they know only a continual drifting between moonlit islands, their tongues licking the stars.
~ from “Wolves” by John Haines

15. ONOMATOPOEIA
the use of words whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning
Ex) Hear the sledges with the bells – Silver bells! What a world of merriment their melody foretells! How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night! While the stars that oversprinkle All the Heavens, seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight.
~ from “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe

16. IMAGERY language that appeals to the senses
Ex) “A slow widening of her thin black lips to show even, small white teeth, then the slow effortless closing.”
~ from “Mrs. Flowers” by Maya Angelou

17. ALLUSION
a reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, the arts, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science
What are some examples from “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe?

18. PERSONIFICATION
a figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it had human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.
Ex) Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees.
~ from “Silver” by Walter de la Mare

19. SYMBOL
a person, a place, a thing, or an event that has meaning in itself and stands for something beyond itself as well.
Ex) bald eagle = United States Star of David = Judaism cross = Christianity
white dove = peace

20. HYPERBOLE an exaggeration or overstatement used for effect
Ex) “His smile was so wide he’d have to break it into sections to fit it through the doorway.”
~ from Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

21. COUPLET a two (2) line stanza
Ex) But do not so; I love thee in such sort, As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

22. QUATRAIN a four (4) line stanza
Ex) Let me confess that we two must be twain, Although our undivided loves are one; So shall these blots that do with me remain, Without thy help, by me be borne alone.
~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

23. SESTET a six (6) line stanza
Ex) I may not evermore acknowledge thee, Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame; Nor thou with public kindness honour me, Unless thou take that honour from thy name: But do not so; I love thee in such sort, As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

24. OCTAVE an eight (8) line stanza
Ex) Let me confess that we two must be twain, Although our undivided loves are one; So shall these blots that do with me remain, Without thy help, by me be borne alone. In our two loves there is but one respect, Though in our lives a separable spite, Which though it alter not love’s sole effect, Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love’s delight.
~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

25. What literary devices are used in this poem?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning