Poetic Devices The Sounds of Poetry Poetic devices are literary techniques not exclusively limited to poetry. Poetic devices are used by good writers in all professions, from novelists, to journalists, to advertisers. This is because poetic devices are pleasing to hear.

Alliteration When the first sounds in words repeat. Examples: Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper. Slim-pinioned swallows sweep and pass. The grass grew green in the graveyard. Despite their mother’s warnings, the children chose to chew with their mouths open.

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 Her finger hungered for a ring. The satin mittens were ancient.

Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. Examples: He saw the coast and hauled off. Will she read these cheap leaflets? The snow in the rose garden groaned.

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

Repetition Repeating a word or words. Repetition can embolden a message. Examples: 1.When you, my Dear,are away, away, How wearily goes the creeping day. Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

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

Practice Quiz I’ll put some lines of poetry on the board, and we’ll practice as a whole group identifying the poetic devices used in each line. Here are the devices: Alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhythm, rhyme, and onomatopoeia. Some poems will use more than one technique.

1 Oh! To be a wave Splintering on the sand, Drawing back, but leaving Lingeringly the land. The purple shows alliteration. The pink shows consonance. The red shows rhyme.

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. The gold shows onomatopoeia and repetition. The red shows rhyme. The purpose shows alliteration. The blue shows assonance.

3 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.