Form 1 English: PoetryIn this unit you will learn to appreciate the use of eight poetic devices; simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, symbolism, alliteration, personification rhythm and rhyme. You will also learn to create your own examples of each device. Finally you will synthesize the devices into a piece of creative poetry.

Create your own simple similes by completing the following phrases simply by adding a noun.

Example: The breeze is like a whisper. Television is like... Summer is like... The moon is like... A dream is like... Night is like... Anger is like... Hands are like...

Simile: we use a simile to compare one thing to another using the word like or as.

You can expand your similes using interesting adjectives and adverbs and by answering the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? or How?

You don´t need to answer all the questions.

Example: The breeze is like the sad whisper of a child lost in deep forest at sunset.

Now make five of your own extended similes using the simple similes you created earlier.

Developing your similes.

Try to complete the following. Example: Expanding like a water balloon.

Feeling like...Whispering like...Dreaming like...Yelling like...Opening like...Dancing like...

If you are feeling creative you can expand them even more like this:Example: Humpty Dumpty was rolling down the hill like a big ball of

cotton wool gently and slowing moving towards the sunlight.

Now try to make similes using different words.

Now try to compose your own similes by putting a noun and verb at the beginning of each phrase and a noun at the end.

Example: My reflection moved as swift as the wind. ...as loving as... ...as ancient as... ...as magical as... ...as strong as... ...as brave as... ...as blue as... ...as mean as... Can you think of any new similes which are fun. One of my

favourite is As cool as a cucumber.

More similes

Now create your own metaphors by comparing one noun to another totally unrelated noun.

Example: Mary has a heart of gold. War is a ... The moon is a ... Jaws of ... A mind of... Marriage is a ... School is a ... A kiss of ... Cigarettes are... Shoes are ... Tears are ...

Metaphors: we use metaphors to make a direct comparison of two things without using like or as..

Now use “I am...” or “We are...” to write metaphors in which you compare yourself to animals, places, ideas or things. Choose from the metaphor beginnings.

Example: I am a pearl. I am or we are (something in nature)... I am or we are (name an animal).. I am or we are (name an age or an era)... I am or we are (name a colour)... I am or we are (name a place)... I am or we are (name an abstract noun)... Now answer the usual questions to expand your metaphor. Example: I am a shiny pearl safe in its shell at the bottom of the

deep, dark sea waiting for the diver to come and take me to the daylight.

Metaphors about people.

Now be creative and complete the following to create expansive metaphors of your own. Remember that you can make your work more interesting by asking the usual questions.

In the past I was a ... In the mirror I am a ... In my dreams I am a... In my fears I am a ... In my cat´s eyes I am a... In these clothes I am a .... In the future I´ll be a ... Example: In the eyes of my angel fish I am a giant ruling the

world with my threatening shadow.

More metaphors.

Onomatopoeic words are simply words that sound like their own meanings. One of my favourite is flip flops. Can you imagine what flip flops are?

Here are a few onomatopoeic words we use regularly. Can you add to the list?

moo ding dong quack whisper sizzle bang buzz cuckoo crack

Onomatopoeic words.

Select a thing or place from the list below. Each thing or place has many sounds. Use onomatopoeic words to describe the place or thing.

A concert. A restaurant. A school playground. A washing machine. A football game. A vacuum cleaner. A zoo. A car, plane, bike or train. Air conditioning.

Creating or using onomapatopoeic words.

Write what each thing or person symbolizes to you. eagle ring money flowers babies stars telephone book computer cow water

Symbolism: we use symbolism when we use something concrete to represent something abstract. For example in most of the world a while dove symbolizes peace.

Try to draw a symbol to represent the following abstract ideas.

power greed love friendship heaven sadness joy fear

Drawing symbols

Example: The sky looked sad, sighed loudly and let fall her big cold tears. Here are some different ways to personify.

Use verbs that name human actions. Love remembers the good times. Use adjectives that are usually used to describe people.The embarrassed clock covered its face. Refer to objects, ideas, qualities and colour using personal pronouns.I called out to the ocean and she waved back to me. Give things human body parts.The tree stretched his legs. Construct a personality for an object by discussing its friends, home or

job.Judgement works at the bank.

Personification: We use personification when we want to give life to an inanimate object.

Personify things, ideas and qualities by writing a human action next to each object below.

Oceans... Wheels... A stapler... The sun... Pollution... Cars... Maths... A house... Eyes... Now expand your creations by answering Who? What? When? Why? or

How? Remember that you do not have to answer all the questions.

Create personification