Poetic Devices in Poetry Adapted by Ms. Hopper from the article Poetic Devices in Poetry By Vivian Gilbert Zabel
What is poetry? Poetry is… emotion, imagery, significance, beauty, dignity, rhythm, sometimes rhyme, a different arrangement which can include inversion, and concreteness in its images.
Poetic Devices What follows is collection of commonly used poetic devices and terms. Hopefully, with the examples given, everyone can better understand some of the ways to make poetry, well, more poetic. The examples used are from Poetic Devices in Poetry by Vivian Gilbert Zabel and are copyrighted in her name.
Alliteration The repetition of beginning sounds.
What makes this alliteration? Rain reigns roughly through the day. Raging anger from the sky Partners prattle of tormented tears From clouds wondering why Lightning tears their souls apart.
Allusion A reference to someone, an event, a piece of literature, etc. in a piece of written work
What makes this allusion? A Common Woman No Helen of Troy she, Taking the world by war, But a woman in plain paper wrapped With a heart of love untapped, She waits, yearning for her destiny Whether it be a he on a charger white Or one riding behind a garbage truck. Perhaps instead a room of students Lurks in the shadows of her life Needing her interest to be shown. Yet other concerns may call No, no Helen of Troy she, But a woman set the world to tame Wherever she may be.
Analogy The comparison of two sets of items that share the same relationship, for example both sets could be opposites, both sets could be employer to employee, etc.
What makes this an analogy? Day's Journey The day dawns as a journey. First one leaves the station on a train, Rushing past other places Without a pause or stop, Watching faces blur through the window, No time to say goodbye. On and on the train does speed Until the line's end one sees, Another sunset down Without any lasting memories.
Caesura the pausing or stopping within a line of poetry caused by needed punctuation.
What makes this caesura? Living, breathing apathy Saps energy, will, interest, Leaving no desire to win. All that's left are ashes, Cinders of what might have been.
Enjambment the continuation of thought from one line of poetry to the next without punctuation needed at the end of the previous line(s).
What makes this enjambment? Looking through the eyes Of wonder, of delight, Children view their world With trust, with hope That only life will change.
Hyperbole Extreme exaggeration
What makes this hyperbole? Giants standing tall as mountains Towering over midgets Bring eyes above the common ground To heights no longer small. Arms of tree trunks wrap In comfort gentle, softness Unthought of due to size, Yet welcomed in their strength.
Metaphor A direct comparison – it calls one thing something else in order to compare.
What makes this a metaphor? Sunshine, hope aglow, Streams from heaven's store Bringing smiles of warming grace Which lighten heavy loads. Clouds are ships in full sail Racing across the sky-blue sea. Wind fills the cotton canvas Pushing them further away from me.
Metonymy the substitution of a word for one with which it is closely associated.
What makes this metonymy? Scandals peep from every window, Hide behind each hedge, Waiting to pounce on the unwary, As the White House cringes in dismay.
Onomatopoeia Words that imitate sound
What makes this onomatopoeia? Roaring with the pain Caused by flashing lightning strikes, Thunders yells, "Booooom! Craaaashhhh! Yeow!" Then mumbles, rumbling on its way. Grrrr, the lion's cry echoes Through the jungle's den Causing creatures small To scurry to their holes.
Oxymoron Two contradictory terms used together Example: ‘pretty ugly’ …’jumbo shrimp’
What makes this an oxymoron? Freezing heat of hate Surrounds the heart Stalling, killing kindness, Bringing destruction to the start.
Personification Gives a human trait to something not human.
What makes this personification? Anger frowns and snarls, Sending bolts of fire from darkest night That bring no brilliance, Rather only added blackness of sight.
Simile A comparison between two unlike things using like or as…and sometimes than.
What makes this a simile? Sunshine, like hope aglow, Streams from heaven's sky Bringing smiles of warming grace On breeze whispers like a sigh. Clouds are like ships in full sail Racing across the sky-blue sea. Wind fills the cotton canvas Pushing them further away from me.
Symbolism Something that has its own meaning but can represent something else.
What makes this symbolism? The dove, with olive branch in beak, Glides over all the land Searching for a place to light. Storms of war linger on every hand, Everywhere the hawk does fight.
Elegy a poem of lament (extreme sorrow, such as caused by death)
Free verse a poem without either a rhyme or a rhythm scheme, although rhyme may be used, just without a pattern.
Blank verse blank verse: un-rhymed lines of iambic pentameter (ten syllables with all even numbered syllables accented)
Imagery the use of sensory words to create a mental picture
Mood the emotional effect of a poem or a story – developed in large part with word choice and poetic devices.