Poetic Devices The tools poets use to enhance their poetry

Figurative Language The use of any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to create new meaning. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, and alliteration.

Alliteration The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Hyperbole An expression of extreme exaggeration. Example: I nearly died laughing! An expression of extreme exaggeration. Example: I nearly died laughing!

Idiom Expressions that have a meaning apart from the meanings of individual words. Example: It’s raining cats and dogs. Expressions that have a meaning apart from the meanings of individual words. Example: It’s raining cats and dogs.

Imagery Vivid descriptions of things seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted. Example: The golden sunlight flashing (visual imagery) Vivid descriptions of things seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted. Example: The golden sunlight flashing (visual imagery)

Metaphor A figure of speech that compares two unlike things, without the use of like or as. Example: My father is a rock. A figure of speech that compares two unlike things, without the use of like or as. Example: My father is a rock.

Mood The overall feeling the poem creates. Example: The mood of a poem can be playful, sad, lonely, angry, or joyful. The overall feeling the poem creates. Example: The mood of a poem can be playful, sad, lonely, angry, or joyful.

Onomatopoeia Words that imitate sounds. Examples: Boom Gurgle Woof Splash Words that imitate sounds. Examples: Boom Gurgle Woof Splash

Personification Assigning human qualities to non- human things. Example: The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky. Assigning human qualities to non- human things. Example: The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.

Pun Words with a humorous double meaning, or a “play on words.” Example: A dog not only has a fur coat, but also pants. Words with a humorous double meaning, or a “play on words.” Example: A dog not only has a fur coat, but also pants.

Rhyme The basic definition is two words that sound alike. Rhyme is the most recognizable convention of poetry. Example: Whose woods these are, I think I know, His house is in the village though. The basic definition is two words that sound alike. Rhyme is the most recognizable convention of poetry. Example: Whose woods these are, I think I know, His house is in the village though.

Rhyme Scheme A pattern of rhyme that is traced throughout the poem. To figure out the rhyme scheme of a poem, we assign letters to each line. When lines rhyme with each other, they are assigned the same letter. A pattern of rhyme that is traced throughout the poem. To figure out the rhyme scheme of a poem, we assign letters to each line. When lines rhyme with each other, they are assigned the same letter.

Example: The itsy bitsy spider a Went up the water spout b Down came the rain c And washed the spider out b So, the rhyme scheme of this poem is a-b-c-b. The itsy bitsy spider a Went up the water spout b Down came the rain c And washed the spider out b So, the rhyme scheme of this poem is a-b-c-b.

Simile Comparing two unlike things using the words like or as. Example: Her skin is like porcelain. His feet are as big as boats. Comparing two unlike things using the words like or as. Example: Her skin is like porcelain. His feet are as big as boats.

Symbol Using an object, animal, or color to represent an idea. Examples: Lions symbolize royalty. A heart symbolizes love. The color black symbolizes death. Using an object, animal, or color to represent an idea. Examples: Lions symbolize royalty. A heart symbolizes love. The color black symbolizes death.