1. Poetic Devices
The Sounds of Poetry

2. Onomatopoeia When a word’s pronunciation imitates its sound. Examples
Buzz Fizz Woof
Hiss Clink Boom
Beep Vroom Zip

3. Repetition
Repeating a word or words for effect.
Example
When you, my Dear, are away, away, How wearily goes the creeping day.

4. Rhythm
When words are arranged in such a way that they make a pattern or beat.
Example
There once was a girl from Chicago
Who dyed her hair pink in the bathtub
I own a solace shut within my heart,
A garden full of many a quaint delight
Hint: hum the words instead of saying them.

5. Rhyme When words have the same end sound.
Happens at the beginning, end, or middle of lines.
Examples
Where
Fair
Air
Bear
Glare

6. Alliteration When the first sounds in words repeat. Example
Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper.
Slim-pinioned swallows sweep and pass

7. Consonance When consonants repeat in the middle or end of words.
Creates a near rhyme sound
Examples
Fixed in onyx A pillar of valor
The calm lamb Fish in a mesh net

8. Practice Quiz I’ll put some lines of poetry on the board.
Write down which techniques are used:
Alliteration, consonance, rhythm, rhyme, and onomatopoeia.
Some poems use more than one technique.

9. 1 Oh! To be a wave Splintering on the sand, Drawing back, but leaving
Lingeringly the land.

10. 2 Drip--hiss--drip--hiss– fall the raindrops
on the oaken log which burns, and steams,
and smokes the ceiling beams.
Drip--hiss--the rain never stops.

11. 3
A trumpet-vine covered an arbour With the red and gold of its blossoms. Red and gold like the brass notes of Trumpets.

12. 4
I passed through the gates of the city, The streets were strange and still, Through the doors of the open churches The organs were moaning shrill.

13. 5
Upon the enchanted ladder of his rhymes, Round after round and patiently The poet ever upward climbs.

14. Answers 1. Rhythm, rhyme, consonance, alliteration.
2. Onomatopoeia, consonance, repetition, rhyme
Alliteration, consonance, repetition
Rhythm, rhyme, alliteration
Repetition, rhyme, light alliteration