Poetic Devices The technique behind the words

Figurative Language  What is figurative language? Language using figures of speech (a way of saying one thing and meaning another)

Why use figurative language?  Figurative language helps a writer show meaning and expression. If a writer does not create an image in the reader ’ s mind, he will lose the reader ’ s attention.

Simile  A figure of speech that creates a comparison between two things usually unalike. The comparison is made by using such words or phrases as like, as, than, similar to, resembles, appears, or seems.  EX: “ Her eyes are like stars! ”  “ Life is like a box of chocolate. ”  A figure of speech that creates a comparison between two things usually unalike. The comparison is made by using such words or phrases as like, as, than, similar to, resembles, appears, or seems.  EX: “ Her eyes are like stars! ”  “ Life is like a box of chocolate. ”

Metaphor  A figure of speech that creates a comparison between two things usually unalike. Doesn ’ t use connective words such as like or as.  EX: “ Her eyes are jewels! ” “ Life is a game. ”  A figure of speech that creates a comparison between two things usually unalike. Doesn ’ t use connective words such as like or as.  EX: “ Her eyes are jewels! ” “ Life is a game. ”

Personification  is giving human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to non-living objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).  EX: “ The diamonds are jealous of your beauty! ”  "The wind whispered through the night."  is giving human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to non-living objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).  EX: “ The diamonds are jealous of your beauty! ”  "The wind whispered through the night."

Stanza  A stanza is a group of lines that act like sentences. The sentences combine together to make stanzas, or paragraphs, of poetry.

Repetition  Poets can utilize this technique to repeat sounds, vowels, consonants, words, single lines, or in fact whole stanzas. This repetition can help create images and feelings for the reader.  EX: “ Quoth the Raven, ‘ Nevermore. ’ ”  Poets can utilize this technique to repeat sounds, vowels, consonants, words, single lines, or in fact whole stanzas. This repetition can help create images and feelings for the reader.  EX: “ Quoth the Raven, ‘ Nevermore. ’ ”

Rhyme Scheme  The pattern established by the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza or poem, generally described by using letters of the alphabet to denote the recurrence of rhyming lines, such as the ababbcc  I put a piece of cantaloupea  Underneath the microscopea  I saw a million strange things sleepen ’ b  I saw a zillion weird things creepen ’ b  The pattern established by the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza or poem, generally described by using letters of the alphabet to denote the recurrence of rhyming lines, such as the ababbcc  I put a piece of cantaloupea  Underneath the microscopea  I saw a million strange things sleepen ’ b  I saw a zillion weird things creepen ’ b

Alliteration  Also called head rhyme or initial rhyme, the repetition of the initial sounds (usually consonants) of stressed syllables in neighboring words or at short intervals within a line or passage, usually at word beginnings  "wild and woolly,"  I bear light shade for the leaves when laid  Also called head rhyme or initial rhyme, the repetition of the initial sounds (usually consonants) of stressed syllables in neighboring words or at short intervals within a line or passage, usually at word beginnings  "wild and woolly,"  I bear light shade for the leaves when laid

ASSONANCE  The relatively close juxtaposition of the same or similar vowel sounds, but with different end consonants in a line or passage, thus a vowel rhyme, as in the words, date and fade

ASSONANCE One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair'd the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place ASSONANCE One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair'd the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place