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Poetry is rich in imagery, rhythm, and emotion. To convey this, writers use multiple poetic devices. These are just a few: Alliteration Anaphora Hyperbole Irony/Paradox Metaphor Onomatopoeia Personification Rhyme (true rhyme, internal rhyme, near/half rhyme, eye rhyme) Simile 2
IMAGERY DEVICES PURPOSE IS TO CREATE AN IMAGE IN THE READER S MIND. 1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Personification 4 3
1. SIMILE A comparison of two things using the words like or as. 5 4
EXAMPLES OF A SIMILE 6 6
EXAMPLES OF A SIMILE Bob is hungry as a wolf. Bob and wolf are the two things being compared, using as 6 6
EXAMPLES OF A SIMILE Bob is hungry as a wolf. Bob and wolf are the two things being compared, using as Sue smells like a rose. Sue & rose are the two things being compared, using like 6 6
EXAMPLES OF A SIMILE Bob is hungry as a wolf. Bob and wolf are the two things being compared, using as Sue smells like a rose. Sue & rose are the two things being compared, using like Lisa looks like a total fox today. Lisa & fox (using like ) 6 6
EXAMPLES OF A SIMILE Bob is hungry as a wolf. Bob and wolf are the two things being compared, using as Sue smells like a rose. Sue & rose are the two things being compared, using like Lisa looks like a total fox today. Lisa & fox (using like ) Matt is as fine as chocolate syrup on ice cream. Matt & syrup (using as ) 6 6
2. METAPHOR A comparison of two unlike things without using like or as. 7 7
EXAMPLES OF METAPHOR 8 8
EXAMPLES OF METAPHOR Bob is a hungry wolf. Bob is compared to a wolf. 8 8
EXAMPLES OF METAPHOR Bob is a hungry wolf. Bob is compared to a wolf. Sue is a rose, filling the room with her sweet scent. Sue (or Sue s scent) and rose (or the rose s scent)are being compared. 8 8
EXAMPLES OF METAPHOR Bob is a hungry wolf. Bob is compared to a wolf. Sue is a rose, filling the room with her sweet scent. Sue (or Sue s scent) and rose (or the rose s scent)are being compared. My sister is such a witch. Sister is compared to a witch. 8 8
EXAMPLES OF METAPHOR Bob is a hungry wolf. Bob is compared to a wolf. Sue is a rose, filling the room with her sweet scent. Sue (or Sue s scent) and rose (or the rose s scent)are being compared. My sister is such a witch. Sister is compared to a witch. This class is my ticket out of EHS. (This) class is compared to ticket. 8 8
3. PERSONIFICATION A type of metaphor in which non-human things or ideas possess human qualities or actions. 9 9
EXAMPLES OF PERSONIFICATION 10 10
EXAMPLES OF PERSONIFICATIO The wind whispered her name. N Wind is being personified: wind whispered, because wind can t actually whisper. 10 10
EXAMPLES OF PERSONIFICATIO The wind whispered her name. N Wind is being personified: wind whispered, because wind can t actually whisper. Love is blind. Love is being personified: because love has no eyes that could be blinded. (If something had eyes, saying it is blind is NOT personification. 10 10
SOUND DEVICES PURPOSE IS TO CREATE A RHYTHM OR SET THE TONE IN THE POEM. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Alliteration Assonance Onomatopoeia Rhyme: True Rhyme Rhyme: Internal Rhyme Rhyme: Near/Half (or Impure) Rhyme Rhyme: Eye Rhyme 1 1 11
4. ALLITERATION The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of neighboring words. (Consonants are all the letters except a, e, i, o, u, and y.) 12 12
EXAMPLES OF ALLITERATION 13 13
EXAMPLES OF ALLITERATION Thedark dance of death whisked her away. Repetition of the d sound in dark dance of death 13 13
EXAMPLES OF ALLITERATION Thedark dance of death whisked her away. Repetition of the d sound in dark dance of death Like a lucky charm, he looks on. Repetition of the l sound in Like, lucky, and looks 13 13
5. ASSONANCE The repetition of vowel sounds (within stressed syllables) of neighboring words. 14 14
EXAMPLES OF ASSONANCE 15 15
EXAMPLES OF ASSONANCE Talking and walking, hours on end. Repetition of the ah sound in talking walking 15 15
EXAMPLES OF ASSONANCE Talking and walking, hours on end. Repetition of the ah sound in talking walking A turtle in the fertile soil. Repetition of the er sound in turtle fertile 15
6. ONOMATOPOEIA Words which imitate the sound they refer to. 16 16
EXAMPLES OF ONOMATOPOEIA 17 17
EXAMPLES OF ONOMATOPOEIA The eagle whizzed past the buzzing bees. whizzed and buzzing imitate the sound they are referring to 17 17
The eagle whizzed past the buzzing bees. whizzed and buzzing imitate the sound they are referring to Rip-roar fire, thegun stutters on. Rip-roar and stutters 17 17
EXAMPLES OF ONOMATOPOEIA The eagle whizzed past the buzzing bees. whizzed and buzzing imitate the sound they are referring to Rip-roar fire, the gun stutters on. Rip-roar and stutters Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Oh! What arelief it is. (from an Alka-Seltzer ad) Plop, plop and fizz, fizz both sound like the sound they describe. 17 17
7. RHYME Words which end with the same sounds, usually at the end of lines. 18 18
EXAMPLES OF RHYME 19 19
EXAMPLES OF RHYME So go ahead and preach, / cause I m the one you teach. teach and preach 19 19
EXAMPLES OF RHYME So go ahead and preach, / cause I m the one you teach. teach and preach You think you re just so cool, / but you re lookin like a fool. cool and fool 19 19
EXAMPLES OF RHYME So go ahead and preach, / cause I m the one you teach. teach and preach You think you re just so cool, / but you re lookin like a fool. cool and fool When he holds me tight, / I know it s going to be alright. tight and alright 19 19
8. INTERNAL RHYME Rhyme within a line. 20 20
EXAMPLES OF INTERNAL RHYME 21 21
EXAMPLES OF INTERNAL RHYME Bright night, a full moon above. bright and night 21 21
EXAMPLES OF INTERNAL RHYME Bright night, a full moon above. bright and night We will stay today and then we must go. stay and today 21 21
EXAMPLES OF INTERNAL RHYME Bright night, a full moon above. bright and night We will stay today and then we must go. stay and today It s a play day and we re feeling good. play and day 21 21
9. NEAR/HALF RHYME Slight or inaccurate repetition of sounds (also called impure rhyme). 22 22
EXAMPLES OF NEAR/HALF RHYME 23 23
EXAMPLES OF NEAR/HALF RHYME On top of the hill, / the moon is full. hill and full 23 23
EXAMPLES OF NEAR/HALF RHYME On top of the hill, / the moon is full. hill and full Give this to the man, / he ll know what I mean. man and mean 23 23
10. EYE RHYME Words that look like they rhyme (similar spelling), but do NOT rhyme (also called sight rhyme). 24 24
EXAMPLES OF EYE RHYME 25 25
EXAMPLES OF EYE RHYME Listen to the water flow,from top I don t see how. flow and how 25 25
EXAMPLES OF EYE RHYME Listen to the water flow,from top I don t see how. flow and how When the game is over, a true champion we ll discover. over and discover 25 25
EXAMPLES OF EYE RHYME Listen to the water flow,from top I don t see how. flow and how When the game is over, a true champion we ll discover. over and discover What would I have to prove, to show you how much I love? prove and love 25 25
MISCELLANEOUS DEVICES 11. Hyperbole 12. Irony/Parado x 26 26
11. HYPERBOLE An obvious and deliberate exaggeration (to emphasize something or for humorous purposes). 27 27
EXAMPLES OF A HYPERBOLE 28 28
EXAMPLES OF A HYPERBOLE I love you more than life itself. Love is exaggerated. 28 28
EXAMPLES OF A HYPERBOLE I love you more than life itself. Love is exaggerated. He could eat ahorse. His appetite is exaggerated. 28 28
12. IRONY Saying the opposite of what you actually mean. (Paradox explained later.) 29 29
EXAMPLES OF IRONY 30 30
EXAMPLES OF IRONY Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Surrounded by water in the ocean, but none of it is drinkable. 30 30
EXAMPLES OF IRONY Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Surrounded by water in the ocean, but none of it is drinkable. The directions were as clear as mud. Obviously, they weren t very clear directions (this is also a simile!). 30 30
12. PARADOX A statement that seems to contradict or oppose itself, yet actually reveals some truth. 31 31
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX 32 32
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX It s hard work doing nothing. 32 32
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX It s hard work doing nothing. Youth is wasted on the young. 32 32
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX It s hard work doing nothing. Youth is wasted on the young. The more we know, the less we understand. 32 32
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX It s hard work doing nothing. Youth is wasted on the young. The more we know, the less we understand. The less you have, the more you are free. (Or the more you have.) 32 32
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX It s hard work doing nothing. Youth is wasted on the young. The more we know, the less we understand. The less you have, the more you are free. (Or the more you have.) I can resist anything but temptation. 32 32
EXAMPLES OF A PARADOX It s hard work doing nothing. Youth is wasted on the young. The more we know, the less we understand. The less you have, the more you are free. (Or the more you have.) I can resist anything but temptation. Her silence was deafening. 32 32
Practicing Poetic Devices - Terms & Definition Definitions Term/Device Example of How it is Used in Poetry 1. simile 2. metaphor 3. personification 4. alliteration 5. assonance 6. onomatopoeia 7. rhyme: true/pure rhyme 8. rhyme: internal rhyme 9. rhyme: near/half/ impure rhyme 10. rhyme: eye rhyme 11. hyperbole 12. irony/paradox Irony: Paradox: 53
Practicing Poetic Devices - Terms & Definitions Term/Device Definition Example of How it is Used in Poetry 1. simile A comparison of two things (that may or not be alike) using the words like or as. Lisa looks like a total fox today. Bob is hungry as a wolf. 2. metaphor A comparison of two unlike things without using like or as. (Things = person, place, thing, or thought) Bob is a hungry wolf. Lisa is a fox. This class is my ticket out of EHS. 3. personification A type of metaphor in which non-human things or ideas possess human qualities or actions. The wind whispered her name. Love is blind. 4. alliteration The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of neighboring words. (Consonants are all the letters except a, e, i, o, u, and y.) The dark dance of death whisked her away. Like a lucky charm, he looks on. Summer is the sweaty circus scents. 5. assonance The repetition of vowel sounds (within stressed syllables) of neighboring words. (Vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and y.) Talking and walking, hours on end. A turtle in the fertile soil. 6. onomatopoeia Words which imitate the sound they refer to. The eagle whizzed past the buzzing bees. Rip-roar fire, the gun stutters on. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Oh! What a relief it is. (from an Alka-Seltzer ad) 7. rhyme: true/pure rhyme Words which end with the same sounds, usually at the end of lines. So go ahead and preach, ʻcause Iʼm the one you teach. 8. rhyme: internal rhyme Rhyme within a line. Bright night, a full moon above. We will stay today and then we must go. Itʼs a play day and weʼre feeling good. 9. rhyme: near/half/ impure rhyme Slight or inaccurate repetition of sounds (also called impure rhyme). Hint: The vowel sounds in the words do not quite rhyme. On top of the hill, the moon is full. 10. rhyme: eye rhyme Words that look like they rhyme (similar spelling), but do NOT rhyme (also called sight rhyme). Listen to the water flow, from top I donʼt see how. (Other examples of eye/sight rhymes: prove/love, over/discover, height/weight, tomb/comb, sew/dew, plow/crow, do/so, though/rough, daughter/laughter, tone/gone, roll/doll, good/mood) 11. hyperbole An obvious and deliberate exaggeration (to emphasize something or for He could eat a horse. She cried for days. humorous purposes). Running faster than the speed of light. I had a ton of homework. 12. irony/paradox Irony: Saying the opposite of what you actually mean. Paradox: A statement that seems to contradict or oppose itself, yet actually reveals some truth. Irony ex.: The directions were as clear as mud. Paradox ex.: Youth is wasted on the young. The less you have, the more you are free. Her silence was deafening. 54