Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

The technique behind the words

The technique behind the words

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

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

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

Why use figurative language? 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.

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.

SimileSimile

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.”

MetaphorMetaphor

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.”

PersonificationPersonification

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."

StanzaStanza

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

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

RepetitionRepetition

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 SchemeRhyme SchemeThe 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 cantaloupe aUnderneath the microscope aI saw a million strange things sleepen’bI 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 cantaloupe aUnderneath the microscope aI saw a million strange things sleepen’bI saw a zillion weird things creepen’ b

AlliterationAlliterationAlso 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 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

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

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIPIN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

SETTINGThe setting of the poem is in the house.THEMESStoicism in lifeFamily loveAcceptance of way of lifeMORAL VALUESWe should learn to accept problems in

life with a positive outlook.We must attempt to face and solve

problems.Failure is part of growing up.Do not despair in the face of failure.

SETTINGThe setting of the poem is in the house.THEMESStoicism in lifeFamily loveAcceptance of way of lifeMORAL VALUESWe should learn to accept problems in

life with a positive outlook.We must attempt to face and solve

problems.Failure is part of growing up.Do not despair in the face of failure.

TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHEREUnderstanding and sympatheticDismalAcceptance of situationPOINT OF VIEWThird person point of view.LANGUAGE & STYLELanguage is simple and easy to understand.The style is simple with no rhyming scheme.POETIC DEVICES Imagery – Gives picture of poet’s thoughts e.g

‘soaky clothes torn’ and ‘legs full of wounds’Alliteration – e.g. ‘but on their brows’Symbols – e.g. ‘horrendous flood’ and ‘bloated

carcasses’

TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHEREUnderstanding and sympatheticDismalAcceptance of situationPOINT OF VIEWThird person point of view.LANGUAGE & STYLELanguage is simple and easy to understand.The style is simple with no rhyming scheme.POETIC DEVICES Imagery – Gives picture of poet’s thoughts e.g

‘soaky clothes torn’ and ‘legs full of wounds’Alliteration – e.g. ‘but on their brows’Symbols – e.g. ‘horrendous flood’ and ‘bloated

carcasses’

VISUAL IMAGESsoaky clothes torn limbs marked by scratches legs full of woundsbloated carcasses tiny chips of tree barks rolling cigarette leavesSYMBOLalbino buffalo - symbol of something that

should treasuredhorrendous flood - symbol of terrible trialsstove - symbol of warmth and sustenancebloated carcasses - symbol of death and decay

VISUAL IMAGESsoaky clothes torn limbs marked by scratches legs full of woundsbloated carcasses tiny chips of tree barks rolling cigarette leavesSYMBOLalbino buffalo - symbol of something that

should treasuredhorrendous flood - symbol of terrible trialsstove - symbol of warmth and sustenancebloated carcasses - symbol of death and decay

‘QWERTYUIOP’ by Vivien Alcock is about a young graduate, Lucy Beck who has just finished her ‘O’ levels at Belmont Secretarial College. Being a slow typist, her principal has no confidence that she will find a job.Fortunately, she is offered a job by Mr. Ross, the Manager of Ross and Bannister’s. On her first day in office, as she sets down to work, she encounters peculiar incidents . Later, she discovers the ghost of Miss Broome, a previous long-time secretary, who now haunts her typewriter.Towards the end of the story, Lucy gets rid of the spirit, which is adamant in holding on to her position as the company’s secretary. She communicates with ‘Miss Broome’ through the typewriter and suggests that Mr. Bannister who has passed away needs her service ‘up there’ and bids her farewell.

Do not judge a book by its cover. Do not judge a person by his/her physical appearance or qualification. When we really want something , we should persevere Problems can be solved effectively through thoughtful actions and compassion

Diction (the choice of words used in the story)

use of vocabulary to create eerie, paranormal atmosphere …There was something odd! A sudden wrongness felt by her fingers, a tingling, an icy pricking

simple vocabulary; short dialogues;

lots of exclamation marks (!) to show emotion; different fonts to indicate typed messages – e.g. capital letters to indicate Miss Broome’s anger in her typed message; use of italics (her) to show emphasis

SimileThe story has many interesting similes e.g. shot off like a scalded cat; with your fingers flying over the keys like white butterflies; straight as a rule;, like a squat, ugly monster; like badly fitting false teeth; like melting ice-cream; eyes like currants, etc.

Metaphore.g. You’re not the timid mouse you look, Miss Beck. You’re a right little lion.; mouse-colored

OnomatopoeiaThe word imitates and echoes the sounds it tries to describe e.g. rattle, snapping, tapping, etc.

Colloquial languagee.g. the old bag (the elderly lady); who would get the chop (who would be dismissed from the job)

Imagerye.g. –grey hair -a thick icing of white hair