Literary Terms and Devices

Lyrics vs. Poems Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. Affranchised: Prevaricate Coquetry I can’t tell, but I think this ship is sinking. I think the hull has been breached. I’ve reinforced what little wood I could, But we seem to be going down. In these moments before the ice cold hits, I will whisper your name in these halls. As the walls pressurize and fall in, You will be with me as I drown. And as my vision blurs in water – And as my lungs seek some escape – I’ll give up struggle and embrace intake. I’ll sleep in sorrow and lie in empty. If you’ll give me an easy out now, I swear to God I’ll take it, Sweet. If you’ll show me just how to breathe new, I’ll open lips and let it Out. Goodbye, goodbye, Sweet Stephanie. I’ve sworn within this deepened sea. Goodbye, goodbye, Sweet Stephanie This is the last you’ll see of me.

The Properties of Poetry Both lyrics and poems are considered types of poetry. That’s right; lyricists are the same as poets. Similar literary elements that make these things poetry can be found in both lyrics and poems. But what are these elements?

Examination Let us take a look at a few quotations from lyrics and poems. Using the quotes alone, define the literary terms that you find within.

Poetry in Song “Pay my respects to grace and virtue Send my condolences to good Give my regards to soul and romance, They always did the best they could” “Somewhere in between The beginning and the end September took the tourists And settled in for good.”

Poetry in… Poetry “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” Dylan Thomas “If we must die--let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot.”

Literary Elements… continued Decide which quote works for which term: Assonance Consonance Alliteration What would I wish of all the world? "Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage, against the dying of the light." “Whose woods these are I think I know”

Imagery Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table; Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells Streets that follow like a tedious argument Of insidious intent To lead you to an overwhelming question … Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” Let us go and make our visit. T.S. Eliot

You Try… Using the newly defined literary terms, decide what type of poem this is and find the literary devices used within. Colubrine Bibelot Sweet sheltered resistance Will never force small detonations In closed and populated places. I’ve tasted wasted, cold positions And sworn upon these empty stairs. Believe me, if I could have lifted Stones or voices, would you listen? In this surrender, will I ever Save a life or lose Forever? Are the broken, bloody pieces Left of what we’ve done? Arms of tenure strangle wishes (If they were, of course, of interest). Steps away lies sweet forgiveness. But this prison, my own insistence, Holds me back beyond position. I’ve willed myself to leave this out of reach… Forgive me once upon myself, Forgive me twice to save yourself. These sins, by God, will Never go unlooked.