Welcome to Poetic Welcome to Poetic DevicesDevices

Learn literary elements Learn literary elements frequently used in poetryfrequently used in poetry

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• Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives

• InstructionsInstructions

• Figurative Language DevicesFigurative Language Devices– Metaphor, Simile, PersonificationMetaphor, Simile, Personification

• Sound DevicesSound Devices– Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance,

Onomatopoeia, Onomatopoeia,

• ImageryImagery

• PracticePractice

• AssessmentAssessment

• Discussion BoardDiscussion Board

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives

• The users will develop their comprehension of the poetic devices by The users will develop their comprehension of the poetic devices by identifying examples of the devices in practice exercises.identifying examples of the devices in practice exercises.

• The users will demonstrate their comprehension of the poetic devices by The users will demonstrate their comprehension of the poetic devices by successfully identifying the device in sample poems with at least seventy successfully identifying the device in sample poems with at least seventy percent efficiency.percent efficiency.

• The users will evaluate their attitude towards poetry, based on success The users will evaluate their attitude towards poetry, based on success with manipulation of the poetic devices.with manipulation of the poetic devices.

Directions for Tutorial:Directions for Tutorial:

• Read the definitions and examples Read the definitions and examples presented for each poetic device.presented for each poetic device.

• Practice identifying the definitions of Practice identifying the definitions of the poetic device by matching the the poetic device by matching the device with the correct definitiondevice with the correct definition

• Assess your comprehension of the Assess your comprehension of the poetic devices with test where you poetic devices with test where you select the correct device based on select the correct device based on the sample line of poetry that is the sample line of poetry that is presented.presented.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

• Figurative Language is a word or Figurative Language is a word or phrase that describes one thing in phrase that describes one thing in terms of another and is not meant terms of another and is not meant to be taken literallyto be taken literally

• Figurative Language consists of poeticFigurative Language consists of poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbolepersonification, and hyperbole

MetaphorMetaphor

Figurative language that makes a Figurative language that makes a comparison between two comparison between two unlike things, in which one unlike things, in which one thing becomes another thing thing becomes another thing without the use of the words without the use of the words like, as, than, like, as, than, or or resemblesresembles

MetaphorMetaphor

All the world is a stageAll the world is a stage-William Shakespeare-William Shakespeare

Hope is the thing with feathers.Hope is the thing with feathers.-Emily Dickinson-Emily Dickinson

Life is a broken winged bird that Life is a broken winged bird that cannot flycannot fly

-Langston Hughes-Langston Hughes

Simile Simile

Figurative language that makes Figurative language that makes a comparison between two a comparison between two unlike things, using an explicit unlike things, using an explicit word such as word such as like, as, like, as, resembles, resembles, or or than.than.

Simile Simile

Life is like a box of chocolates.-Forrest Gump

What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

-Langston Hughes-Langston Hughes

And the night shall be filled with music,And the night shall be filled with music, And the cares, that infest the day,And the cares, that infest the day,Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, And as silently steal away.And as silently steal away.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

PersonificationPersonification

A special kind of metaphor in A special kind of metaphor in which a nonhuman thing which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about or quality is talked about as if it were humanas if it were human

PersonificationPersonificationThis poetry gets bored of being alone…This poetry gets bored of being alone…

- Hugo Margenat- Hugo Margenat

Time, you old gypsy man,Time, you old gypsy man, Will you not stay?Will you not stay?

-Ralph Hodgson-Ralph Hodgson

The shattered water made a misty din.The shattered water made a misty din.Great waves looked over others coming in,Great waves looked over others coming in,And thought of doing something to the shoreAnd thought of doing something to the shoreThat water never did to land before.That water never did to land before.

- Robert Frost- Robert Frost

Exaggeration to Exaggeration to express strong express strong emotion or for emotion or for comic effect. comic effect. Also called Also called overstatementoverstatement

HyperboleHyperbole

HyperboleHyperbole

This limousine is as long as an ocean liner.This limousine is as long as an ocean liner.

Sound DevicesSound Devices

Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, OnomatopoeiaAlliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Onomatopoeia

AlliterationAlliteration

Repetition of the beginning Repetition of the beginning consonant sounds in words consonant sounds in words that are close together in a that are close together in a poem.poem.

AlliterationAlliteration

Doing her Doing her womanwoman’’s works work waswas a hard art a hard artto practice to practice whenwhen the the summer sunsummer sun would bar would barthe floor I the floor I sweptswept till till sheshe was was satisfiedsatisfied..

-Julia Alvarez-Julia Alvarez

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.-Anonymous

Success and emotional symmetry are simply hard to sustain.

-John Tolliver

AssonanceAssonance

Repetition of the Repetition of the vowel sound followedvowel sound followedby different consonantsby different consonantsin two or more stressedin two or more stressedsyllablessyllables

AssonanceAssonance

Thou fosterThou foster childchild of of silencesilence and and slowslow timetime-John Keats-John Keats

ConsonanceConsonance

Repetition of the ending consonant Repetition of the ending consonant sound, especially in words that sound, especially in words that are close together in a poem.are close together in a poem.

ConsonanceConsonance

A think tank is the sound of wind, rushing and wishing.A think tank is the sound of wind, rushing and wishing.- John Tolliver- John Tolliver

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

The use of a word whose sound The use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning.imitates or suggests its meaning.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

Tick, tock, tick, tockTick, tock, tick, tock the clock continues… the clock continues…

Boom! Boom! Cataclysmic explosion.Cataclysmic explosion.

Chirp, chirp. Chirp, chirp.Chirp, chirp. Chirp, chirp. Happy birds on a summer Happy birds on a summer’’s day.s day.

ImageryImagery

Is defined as language that creates a Is defined as language that creates a mental image by appealing to the five mental image by appealing to the five senses: senses:

SightSight

SoundSound

SmellSmell

TouchTouch

TasteTaste

ImageryImagery

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;Three fields to cross till a farm appears;Three fields to cross till a farm appears;A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratchA tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratchAnd blue spurt of a lighted match…And blue spurt of a lighted match…

- Robert Browning- Robert Browning

Desolate and loneDesolate and loneAll night long on the lakeAll night long on the lakeWhere fog trails and mist creeps,Where fog trails and mist creeps,The whistle of a boatThe whistle of a boatCalls and cries unendingly,Calls and cries unendingly,Like some lost childLike some lost childIn tears and troubleIn tears and troubleHunting the harborHunting the harbor’’s breasts breastAnd the harborAnd the harbor’’s eyes.s eyes.

-Carl Sandburg-Carl Sandburg

PracticePractice

Directions: Type the letter of the correct definition beside the poetic device.Directions: Type the letter of the correct definition beside the poetic device.

practicepractice 1. Simile1. Simile

2. Metaphor2. Metaphor

3. Onomatopoeia3. Onomatopoeia

4. Imagery4. Imagery

5. Personification5. Personification

6. Alliteration6. Alliteration

7. Assonance7. Assonance

8. Consonance8. Consonance

9. Figurative Language9. Figurative Language

A.A. Repetition of the beginning Repetition of the beginning consonant soundconsonant sound

B.B. Comparison of two unlike thingsComparison of two unlike things

C.C. Words that appeal to the five Words that appeal to the five sensessenses

D.D. Words that represent soundsWords that represent sounds

E.E. Words or phrases not to be Words or phrases not to be taken literallytaken literally

F.F. Repetition of the ending Repetition of the ending consonant soundconsonant sound

G.G. Giving animals or objects Giving animals or objects human characteristicshuman characteristics

H.H. Repetition of vowel soundsRepetition of vowel sounds

I.I. Comparison of two unlike things Comparison of two unlike things using using like, as, like, as, or or resembles.resembles.

AssessmentAssessment

Armed with your knowledge of the poetic devices, you are now ready to Armed with your knowledge of the poetic devices, you are now ready to analyze sample lines of poetry and determine which device they analyze sample lines of poetry and determine which device they represent.represent.

Question 1Question 1

Which poetic device is the line of poetry which reads, Which poetic device is the line of poetry which reads, ““princes and princes and paupers are people a word apartpaupers are people a word apart”” an example of? an example of?

• A) personificationA) personification

• B) alliterationB) alliteration

• C) metaphorC) metaphor

• D) simileD) simile

Question 2Question 2

What poetic device is the line What poetic device is the line ““the hands of time molded my distastethe hands of time molded my distaste”” an example of?an example of?

• A) personificationA) personification

• B) alliterationB) alliteration

• C) metaphorC) metaphor

• D) simileD) simile

Question 3Question 3

What poetic device is the line What poetic device is the line ““her smile is like the noon day sunher smile is like the noon day sun”” an an example of?example of?

• A) personificationA) personification

• B) alliterationB) alliteration

• C) metaphorC) metaphor

• D) simileD) simile

Question 4Question 4

The line from Psalm 22 that reads The line from Psalm 22 that reads ““I am poured out like water…my I am poured out like water…my heart is like waxheart is like wax”” is an example of: is an example of:

• A) AlliterationA) Alliteration

• B) SimileB) Simile

• C) MetaphorC) Metaphor

• D) PersonificationD) Personification

Question 5Question 5

In In ““SpringSpring”” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the line which reads by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the line which reads ““It is not It is not enough that yearly, down this hill, April comes like an idiot, enough that yearly, down this hill, April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowersbabbling and strewing flowers”” is an example of is an example of

• A) AssonanceA) Assonance

• B) AlliterationB) Alliteration

• C) PersonificationC) Personification

• D) Onomatopoeia D) Onomatopoeia

Question 6Question 6

Percy Bysshe ShelleyPercy Bysshe Shelley’’s s ““Ode to the West WindOde to the West Wind”” contains a line that contains a line that reads reads ““O wild west wind, thou breath of autumnO wild west wind, thou breath of autumn ’’s being.s being.”” This is This is an example of:an example of:

• A) AlliterationA) Alliteration

• B) AssonanceB) Assonance

• C) ConsonanceC) Consonance

• D) OnomatopoeiaD) Onomatopoeia

Question 7Question 7

In In ““Summer RememberedSummer Remembered”” by Isabella Gardner the line which reads by Isabella Gardner the line which reads ““The pizzicato plinkle of ice in an auburn uncleThe pizzicato plinkle of ice in an auburn uncle ’’s amber glasss amber glass”” is an is an example of:example of:

• A) AssonanceA) Assonance

• B) ConsonanceB) Consonance

• C) OnomatopoeiaC) Onomatopoeia

• D) simile D) simile

Question 8Question 8

Robert FrostRobert Frost’’s s ““Acquainted with the NightAcquainted with the Night”” contains a line which reads contains a line which reads ““I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet.I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet.”” This is an This is an example of:example of:

• A) AssonanceA) Assonance

• B) ConsonanceB) Consonance

• C) OnomatopoeiaC) Onomatopoeia

• D) AlliterationD) Alliteration

Question 9Question 9

The line which reads The line which reads ““I was a lonely cloudI was a lonely cloud”” is an example of: is an example of:

• A) SimileA) Simile

• B) MetaphorB) Metaphor

• C) AlliterationC) Alliteration

• D) AssonanceD) Assonance

Question 10Question 10

Emily DickinsonEmily Dickinson’’s lines of poetry which read s lines of poetry which read ““The Mountain sat upon The Mountain sat upon the Plain/ In his tremendous Chair--/ His observation omnifold,/ His the Plain/ In his tremendous Chair--/ His observation omnifold,/ His inquest, everywhere—inquest, everywhere—”” This is an example of: This is an example of:

• A) PersonificationA) Personification

• B) MetaphorB) Metaphor

• C) SimileC) Simile

• D) AlliterationD) Alliteration

CongratulationsCongratulations

You have successfully completed the You have successfully completed the assessment page. You answered the assessment page. You answered the assessment questions with ___ % accuracy.assessment questions with ___ % accuracy.

EvaluationEvaluation

Check the response that pertains to you:Check the response that pertains to you:

_____ I feel more confident in my ability to identify the poetic devices._____ I feel more confident in my ability to identify the poetic devices.

_____ I have a definite appreciation for poetry and feel more confident in _____ I have a definite appreciation for poetry and feel more confident in my ability to process what I read based on my knowledge of the my ability to process what I read based on my knowledge of the poetic devices.poetic devices.

Thank youThank you

Thank you for your participation in this program. Special thanks to the Thank you for your participation in this program. Special thanks to the Virginia Department of Education for the released Standards of Learning Virginia Department of Education for the released Standards of Learning items that were used as samples for the poetry selections.items that were used as samples for the poetry selections.