Elements of Poetry: Sound Devices 8th Grade English/Language Arts – Poetry Unit: Sound Devices - Blume

Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds, in two or more neighboring words or syllables. The wild and wooly walrus waits and wonders when we will walk by. Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees… -- from Silver by Walter de la Mare How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? (almost ALL tongue twisters!)

Sound Devices

Alliteration examples

Rhyme The repetition of end sounds in words End rhymes appear at the end of two or more lines of poetry. Internal rhymes appear within a single line of poetry. Ring around the rosies, A pocket full of posies, Abednego was meek and mild; he softly spoke, he sweetly smiled. He never called his playmates names, and he was good in running games;

This may seem confusing, but it isn’t. Really! Rhyme Scheme The pattern of end rhymes (of lines) in a poem. Letters are used to identify a poem’s rhyme scheme (a.k.a rhyme pattern). The letter a is placed after the first line and all lines that rhyme with the first line. The letter b identifies the next line ending with a new sound, and all lines that rhyme with it. Letters continue to be assigned in sequence to lines containing new ending sounds. a.k.a = “also known as” This may seem confusing, but it isn’t. Really!

Rhyme Scheme continued… Examples: Twinkle, twinkle little star a How I wonder what you are. a Up above the earth so high, b Like a diamond in the sky. b Baa, baa, black sheep a Have you any wool? b Yes sir, yes sir, c Three bags full. b

Rhyme Scheme continued… What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza? 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. From Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Did you get it right? aaba Whose woods these are I think I know. a His house is in the village though; a He will not see me stopping here b To watch his woods fill up with snow. a

and...

Onomatopoeia Review... Onomatopoeia is also considered a “poetic sound device”. Words that sound like their meaning --- the “sound” they describe. buzz… hiss… roar… meow… woof… rumble… howl… snap… zip… zap… blip… whack … crack… crash… flutter… flap… squeak… whirr.. pow… plop… crunch… splash… jingle… rattle… clickety-clack… bam!