MRS. ELIAS2014

Poetic Terms and Figurative Language

Poetic Devices

Terms and Examples

Free Verse Poems

Do not rhyme

Do not have rhythm

Do not have structure

‘Rhyming’ Poems

Rhyme

May have a pattern

Typically has rhythm

May have a structure

Rhythm

Usually containing rhyming words at the end of lines

Specific syllables are stressed

Follows a pattern

Punctuation

Show reader how to “read” the poem

Some poems do not have punctuation

Punctuation needs to be consistent throughout

Stanza

A group of lines that is separate and divided in a poem

Format chosen by the poet

May included a rhyming pattern within

Refrain

A repetitive line/s found throughout the poem or in music lyrics

Usually in the same location; example, after each stanza

AKA chorus in a song

Meter

Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

Symbol

Person, object, word, image or event that has additional meaning beyond the normal definition and often represents something or someone else

Rhyme

Words ending with like (or similar) sounds

Ex: rice/Nicesorry/quarry

Internal Rhyme

Placing rhyming words within a line of the poem

Ex: the fat cat liked to purr

Speaker

The voice that is heard in the poem, not necessarily the author

Syllable

A word, or part of a word, that has a separate sound when you say it

Ex: thumb = 1 Finger = 2Phalange = 3

Repetition

Repeating sound, words, phrases, or lines for emphasis

Ex: double, double toil and trouble

TERMS AND

DEFINITIONS

Figurative Language

HELPS POETS CREATE SPECIFIC EFFECTS AND FEELINGS FOR THE

READER/LISTENER

Figurative Language

TWO OR MORE WORDS STARTING WITH THE SAME SOUND

EX: SALLY SINGS SILLY SONGS

Alliteration

USE OF LANGUAGE THAT IS VIVID AND COLORFUL

EX: THE GOLDEN SAND ON THE BEACH TWINKLES UNDER THE ORANGE FLAMES

OF THE SETTING SUN

Imagery

COMPARING TWO UNLIKE THINGS WITHOUT THE USE OF LIKE OR AS

EX: HER LOVE BLOOMED

Metaphor

COMPARING TWO UNLIKE THINGS USING LIKE OR AS

EX: THE ROOM WAS HOT AS A SUMMER’S DAY

SHE SINGS LIKE AN ANGEL

Simile

WHEN A WORD SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IT IS DESCRIBING

EX: BUZZ, THE SOUND A BEE MAKES

Onomatopoeia

GIVING A HUMAN QUALITY TO AN INANIMATE/NON-HUMAN OBJECT

EX: THE GRASS DANCED IN THE RAIN AS THE WIND WHISTLED

Personification

AN EXTREME EXAGGERATION

EX: HOTTER THAN A THOUSAND DEGREES

Hyperbole

AN EXPRESSION THAT HAS A MEANING APART FROM ITS INDIVIDUAL WORDS

EX: FEELING UNDER THE WEATHEROR

“I COULD EAT A HORSE!”

Idiom

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Practice!

1THE PAPER IS AS LIGHT AS A FEATHER___ _ _ _ _ _2THE OCEAN WAS A RAGING BULL___ _ _ _ _3THE STREETLIGHT WAS MY SECURITY DOG___ _ _ _ _4HER EYES SHONE LIKE THE STARS AT NIGHT___ _ _ _ _5MY LITTLE BROTHER EATS LIKE A PIG__ _ _ _ _ _6HER TEARS FLOWED LIKE A RIVER___ _ _ _ _7HOT AS A BURNING FIRE___ _ _ _ _8LOVE IS A ROSE___ _ _ _ _9HER VOICE WAS A WEAPON DURING THE DEBATE___ _ _ _ _10COOL AS A CUCUMBER____ _ _ _

Simile or Metaphor

1PETER PUSHED THE PEDALS HARD___ _ _ _ _2CEILINGS AND CEREAL DO NOT RHYME___ _ _ _3THE ICE COLD, WINTERY NIGHT _ _ _ _ _ _ _4I LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT LIGHTNING___ _ _ _ _5HER PALE SKIN GLOWS IN THE HOT RAYS OF THE SUN___ _ _ _6SHE WHISPERED SOFTLY AND SWEETLY___ _ _ _ _7THE FIREWORKS CRASHED THE NIGHT SKY _ _ _ _ _ _ _8LAUGHTER FILLED THE CROWDED ROOM____ _ _ _9TESTS ARE TOUGH AND TEDIOUS___ _ _ _ _

Alliteration or Imagery

1MY TEACHER IS SO OLD SHE WROTE THE BIBLE___ _ _ _ _2THE RAIN KISSED THE CLOUDS___ _ _ _ _3THE SNOW WHISPERED AS IT FELL TO THE GROUND___ _ _ _ _4THE CAR ENGINE COUGHED EACH TIME IT STARTED___ _ _ _ _5MY BOOK BAG WEIGHS 1 ,000 POUNDS___ _ _ _ _ _6I ’M SO HOT I COULD MELT___ _ _ _ _7THE FLOWERS NODDED IN THE WIND___ _ _ _ _8I ’M GOING TO DIE IF I DON’T EAT LUNCH___ _ _ _ _ _9THE TIMER TOLD ME THE GAME WAS OVER___ _ _ _ _ _

Hyperbole or Personification

1SHE HAS A GREEN THUMB___ _ _ _ _ _ _2THE BEE BUZZED THROUGH THE AIR__ _ _ _ _ _3THE BACON SIZZLED IN THE PAN___ _ _ _ _ _4HOLD YOUR HORSES, I ’M COMING____ _ _ _5DON’T BE A BACKSEAT DRIVER___ _ _ _ _6THE WATER GUSHES DOWN THE RIVER___ _ _ _ _7SHE’S GOING BANANAS___ _ _ _ _8I WASN’T BORN YESTERDAY___ _ _ _ _9QUIT ZIPPING THROUGH THE LINES AND STAND STILL__ _ _ _ _ _10THE FIRE CRACKLED___ _ _ _ _

Idiom or Onomatopoeia