MRS. ELIAS 2014 Poetic Terms and Figurative Language

Poetic Devices Terms and Examples

Free Verse Poems Do not rhyme Do not have rhythm Do not have structure

‘Rhyming’ Poems Rhyme May have a pattern Typically has rhythm May have a structure

Rhythm Usually containing rhyming words at the end of lines Specific syllables are stressed Follows a pattern

Punctuation Show reader how to “read” the poem Some poems do not have punctuation Punctuation needs to be consistent throughout

Stanza A group of lines that is separate and divided in a poem Format chosen by the poet May included a rhyming pattern within

Refrain A repetitive line/s found throughout the poem or in music lyrics Usually in the same location; example, after each stanza AKA chorus in a song

Meter Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

Symbol Person, object, word, image or event that has additional meaning beyond the normal definition and often represents something or someone else

Rhyme Words ending with like (or similar) sounds Ex: rice/Nice sorry/quarry

Internal Rhyme Placing rhyming words within a line of the poem Ex: the fat cat liked to purr

Speaker The voice that is heard in the poem, not necessarily the author

Syllable A word, or part of a word, that has a separate sound when you say it Ex: thumb = 1 Finger = 2 Phalange = 3

Repetition Repeating sound, words, phrases, or lines for emphasis Ex: double, double toil and trouble

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Figurative Language

HELPS POETS CREATE SPECIFIC EFFECTS AND FEELINGS FOR THE READER/LISTENER Figurative Language

TWO OR MORE WORDS STARTING WITH THE SAME SOUND EX: SALLY SINGS SILLY SONGS Alliteration

USE OF LANGUAGE THAT IS VIVID AND COLORFUL EX: THE GOLDEN SAND ON THE BEACH TWINKLES UNDER THE ORANGE FLAMES OF THE SETTING SUN Imagery

COMPARING TWO UNLIKE THINGS WITHOUT THE USE OF LIKE OR AS EX: HER LOVE BLOOMED Metaphor

COMPARING TWO UNLIKE THINGS USING LIKE OR AS EX: THE ROOM WAS HOT AS A SUMMER’S DAY SHE SINGS LIKE AN ANGEL Simile

WHEN A WORD SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IT IS DESCRIBING EX: BUZZ, THE SOUND A BEE MAKES Onomatopoeia

GIVING A HUMAN QUALITY TO AN INANIMATE/NON-HUMAN OBJECT EX: THE GRASS DANCED IN THE RAIN AS THE WIND WHISTLED Personification

AN EXTREME EXAGGERATION EX: HOTTER THAN A THOUSAND DEGREES Hyperbole

AN EXPRESSION THAT HAS A MEANING APART FROM ITS INDIVIDUAL WORDS EX: FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER OR “I COULD EAT A HORSE!” Idiom

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Practice!

1THE PAPER IS AS LIGHT AS A FEATHER________ 2THE OCEAN WAS A RAGING BULL_______ 3THE STREETLIGHT WAS MY SECURITY DOG_______ 4HER EYES SHONE LIKE THE STARS AT NIGHT_______ 5MY LITTLE BROTHER EATS LIKE A PIG_______ 6HER TEARS FLOWED LIKE A RIVER_______ 7HOT AS A BURNING FIRE_______ 8LOVE IS A ROSE_______ 9HER VOICE WAS A WEAPON DURING THE DEBATE_______ 10COOL AS A CUCUMBER_______ Simile or Metaphor

1PETER PUSHED THE PEDALS HARD_______ 2CEILINGS AND CEREAL DO NOT RHYME______ 3THE ICE COLD, WINTERY NIGHT _______ 4I LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT LIGHTNING_______ 5HER PALE SKIN GLOWS IN THE HOT RAYS OF THE SUN______ 6SHE WHISPERED SOFTLY AND SWEETLY_______ 7THE FIREWORKS CRASHED THE NIGHT SKY _______ 8LAUGHTER FILLED THE CROWDED ROOM_______ 9TESTS ARE TOUGH AND TEDIOUS_______ Alliteration or Imagery

1MY TEACHER IS SO OLD SHE WROTE THE BIBLE_______ 2THE RAIN KISSED THE CLOUDS_______ 3THE SNOW WHISPERED AS IT FELL TO THE GROUND_______ 4THE CAR ENGINE COUGHED EACH TIME IT STARTED_______ 5MY BOOK BAG WEIGHS 1,000 POUNDS________ 6I’M SO HOT I COULD MELT_______ 7THE FLOWERS NODDED IN THE WIND_______ 8I’M GOING TO DIE IF I DON’T EAT LUNCH________ 9THE TIMER TOLD ME THE GAME WAS OVER________ Hyperbole or Personification

1SHE HAS A GREEN THUMB_________ 2THE BEE BUZZED THROUGH THE AIR_______ 3THE BACON SIZZLED IN THE PAN________ 4HOLD YOUR HORSES, I’M COMING_______ 5DON’T BE A BACKSEAT DRIVER_______ 6THE WATER GUSHES DOWN THE RIVER_______ 7SHE’S GOING BANANAS_______ 8I WASN’T BORN YESTERDAY_______ 9QUIT ZIPPING THROUGH THE LINES AND STAND STILL_______ 10THE FIRE CRACKLED_______ Idiom or Onomatopoeia