1. Figurative Language and Poetry Terms

2. A List of the Terms in the Presentation
Alliteration
Metaphor
Assonance
Onomatopoeia
Consonance
Personification
End Rhyme
Repetition
Hyperbole
Rhyme Scheme
Idiom
Simile
Internal Rhyme
Symbolism

3. Language Uses literal language- precise, realistic language
(The ball is yellow and black.) .
figurative language- uses metaphors, similes
and personification to describe things.
(Her eyes are like deep pools.)
sensory language- detailed language that shows how things taste, smell, feel, sound and look.
(Brightly colored balloons dotted the
clear blue sky.)

4. Simile
A simile is a comparison between unlike things using like, as, or as though.
Example: Life is like a box of chocolates.
Example: Her hair is as smooth as silk.

5. Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison between essentially unlike things without a comparative word such as like or as.
Example: Our friendship is a beautiful waterfall.
Example: The children were roses grown in concrete gardens, beautiful and forlorn

6. Personification
Personification is giving human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to non-living objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).
The rain kissed my cheek.
The last piece of pie is
calling my name.

7. Hyperbole
A hyperbole is a comparison of two objects using extreme exaggeration.
It is often confused with a simile or a metaphor, because it often compares two objects. The difference is a hyperbole is an impossible exaggeration.
Example: His feet were as
big as a barge.
Example: That shop sells mile high ice cream cones.

8. Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds
associated with the objects or
actions they refer to.

9. Idiom
An idiom is an expression that has a figurative meaning rather than a literal meaning. Also, idioms are usually well-known sayings.
It’s raining cats and dogs!
You’re in hot water.
He is just adding salt to the
wound.
None of these things are ACTUALLY happening.
This isn’t really happening, right?

10. Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sound at the beginning of words. There should be at least two repetitions in a row.
Peter Piper picked
a peck of pickled
peppers.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet.

11. Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of the vowel sounds in a sentence, a line of poetry, or prose.
Daylight faded gracefully away.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

12. Consonance
Consonance is the repetition of consonants in a sentence or a line of poetry. The consonants can be anywhere in the word. This is different from alliteration, which must repeat the beginning sound.
The sailor sings of ropes and things.
Rap rejects my tape deck, ejects the projectile.

13. Repetition
Repetition is the repeating of a word or phrase or an entire line of poetry to enhance mood or meaning
Tap, tap, tapping on my chamber door
One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

14. End Rhyme End rhyme is when two or more lines end in the same sound.
Frog rhymes with log.
Be rhymes with me.

15. Rhyme Scheme Rhyme scheme is the pattern of END RHYMES in a poem.
The pattern is signified by letters.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you
The rhyme scheme for “The Frog” is
A frog
B be
A log
B me
The rhyme scheme for “Roses” is
A red
B blue
C sweet
B you

16. Internal Rhyme
Internal rhyme is two words IN THE SAME LINE that end in the same sound.
Ex: “Hickory Dickory Dock”
I am the daughter of earth and water.
We were the first that ever burst.

17. Symbol
A symbol is an object or a concrete item that represents an abstract idea.
A dove can symbolize peace.
Bilbo’s named sword, Sting, can represent heroism and bravery.
A wedding ring represents completeness and total love.
Springtime can symbolize new life and hope.

18. Put your knowledge to the test
Read the following poem by Robert Frost “Nothing Gold Can Stay” Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay
Discuss:
What figurative language or literary devices do you notice in this poem?

19. Put your knowledge to the test. Copy the following chart
Example
Figurative Language
How does it add to the mood or the meaning?
It gives the idea that Eden (a garden, nature) experiences sadness whenever a season ends. Endings are natural, but still hard to experience.
Personification
“So Eden sank to grief”
The repetition adds to the idea of life constantly changing and evolving, over and over, season after season.
“Then leaf subsides to leaf”
Repetition
Add your own example from the poem

20. With a partner, complete the following chart for the poem “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” (page 650)
Example
Figurative Language
How does it add to the mood or the meaning?

21. With a partner, complete the following chart for the poem “The Desert is My Mother” (page 578)
Example
Figurative Language
How does it add to the mood or the meaning?