1. Identifying Poetic Devices (Figurative Language and Sound Devices)
Poetry Practice
Identifying Poetic Devices
(Figurative Language and Sound Devices)
alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia, repetition, imagery, idiom, simile, metaphor, personification

2. You, you and your partner, or you and your group are to:
Read the lines of poetry.
Identify two or more poetic techniques being used in each example and write them on the paper provided, there may be more than two techniques being used.
Then, explain each of your answers.

3. #1 a. Alliteration c. Personification b. Rhyme d. Idiom
This falling spray of snow-flakes is a handful of dead Februaries

4. #2 a. Idiom c. Rhythm e. Imagery b. Rhyme d. Repetition
I'm growing fonder of my staff; I'm growing dimmer in the eyes; I'm growing fainter in my laugh; I'm growing deeper in my sighs;

5. #3 a. Rhythm. d. Rhyme b. Onomatopoeia. e. Alliteration c. Repetition
#3 a. Rhythm d. Rhyme b. Onomatopoeia e. Alliteration c. Repetition f. Simile
Confound the cats! All cats--away– Cats of all colors, black, white, gray; By night a nuisance and by day– Confound the cats! All cats, always.

6. Select all that apply
a. Alliteration c. Idiom e. Onomatopoeia b. Metaphor d. Simile f. Rhyme #4
Time is a green orchard. #5
At dusk there's a thin haze like cigarette smoke
ribbons #6
Life is a bowl of cherries.

7. Select all that apply
a. Alliteration c. Idiom e. Onomatopoeia b. Metaphor d. Simile f. Rhyme #7
All that I hear
is the slishity-slosh of the rain. #8
But he grew old
This knight so bold- #9
That'll be the day when pigs fly.

8. a. Imagery c. Idiom e. Personification b. Metaphor d. Simile f. Rhyme
#10
This test will be a piece of cake.
#11
The sunshine threw his hat away,
#12
The heat of the sun beat down upon her face.
Tasting the salt of her tears brought on more disgrace.

9. Answers
1. a. Alliteration c. Personification 2. b. Rhyme c. Rhythm d. Repetition 3. a. Rhythm c. Repetition d. Rhyme e. Alliteration 4. b. Metaphor 5. d. Simile 6. b. Metaphor c. Idiom 7. e. Onomatopoeia 8. f. Rhyme 9. c. Idiom 10. b. Metaphor c. Idiom 11. e. Personification 12. a. Imagery f. Rhyme e. Personification