Poetry Devices

imagery

language that appeals to the five senses: touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight. The description creates an "image" in the reader's mind.

poetry

:iterary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.

onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The "boom" of a firework exploding, the "tick tock" of a clock, and the "ding dong" of a doorbell are all examples of this device.

metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating that one thing is another thing. even though it isn't literally true. Example: "Mary's eyes were fireflies."

hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor.

stanza

A group of lines in a poem set off by blank lines, a poetic paragraph.

symbol

A literary device where a physical object represents a big idea.

ode

A long poem in stanzas of varied length, meter and form. It is a "song" of praise.

symbolism

A person, place, object or an action that stands for something beyond itself.

line

A single row of words in a poem.

repetition

A technique where the same word or line is repeated for emphasis or unity. Creates an appealing rhythm or meaning. (Like a chorus in a song).

mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader. The feeling the writer evokes in the reader.

personification

Non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of this device, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human emotion.

free verse

Poetry written without a regular rhyme scheme, meter, or form.

alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words: Baby buggy bouncing. Example: A big black bug was bored.

end rhyme

Rhyme that occurs at the end of lines.

internal rhyme

Rhyme that occurs within a line, rather than at the end.

theme (central idea)

The lesson about life that an author tries to convey through his/her/their literary piece. This universal lesson applies to all people rather than just the main character.

rhythm

The repetition of the same or similar sounds, usually in stressed syllables at the end of lines.

figurative language

The use of words to create an image in the reader's mind, including simile, metaphor, hyperbole onomatopoeia.

simile

This device makes a comparison between two unrelated things, but uses the words 'like' or 'as.' Example: The sun is like a lemon.

tone

This indicates the author's feeling about the subject of their writing. It can be joyful, serious, humorous, sad, threatening, formal, informal, pessimistic and optimistic.

prose

Writing that is similar to everyday speech and written language, made up of sentences and paragraphs.