Poetry Tool BagPoetry Tool Bag

Write down the Write down the examples/definition next to (or examples/definition next to (or under) the term on your paper!under) the term on your paper!

ImageryImagery

Used to evoke mental images.Used to evoke mental images.

The pitter-patter of the rain against the The pitter-patter of the rain against the window. window.

MetaphorMetaphor

Comparison between two unlike entities Comparison between two unlike entities

The streets were a furnace.The streets were a furnace.

SimileSimile

comparison between two unlike entities comparison between two unlike entities using like or as using like or as

Quick as a fox.Quick as a fox.

PersonificationPersonification

human characteristics are attributed to an human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object object

The sun smiled.The sun smiled.

Word ChoiceWord Choice

Choice of words that work with the Choice of words that work with the meaning/feeling of the poem.meaning/feeling of the poem.

““the little house,” “the diminutive house,” the little house,” “the diminutive house,” and “the petite house” and “the petite house”

End StopsEnd Stops A poetic line that has a pause at the end. A poetic line that has a pause at the end.

End-stopped lines reflect normal speech End-stopped lines reflect normal speech patterns and are often marked by patterns and are often marked by punctuation. punctuation.

As I in hoary winter's night stood shivering in the As I in hoary winter's night stood shivering in the snow,snow,Surprised I was with sudden heat, which made my heart Surprised I was with sudden heat, which made my heart to to glow;glow;And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,near,A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear. appear.

• Robert SouthwellRobert Southwell

VoiceVoice

The attitude you “get” about the subject.The attitude you “get” about the subject.

Mood Mood the overall feelingthe overall feeling

Stark naked flower stalksStark naked flower stalksStand shivering in the wind.Stand shivering in the wind.The cheerless sun hides its The cheerless sun hides its black lightblack lightBehind bleak, angry clouds,Behind bleak, angry clouds,While trees vainly tryWhile trees vainly tryTo catch their escaping leaves.To catch their escaping leaves.Carpets of grass turn brown,Carpets of grass turn brown,Blending morosely with the Blending morosely with the dreary day.dreary day.Winter seems the death of life Winter seems the death of life forever. forever.

GloomyGloomy

Stunningly dressed flower Stunningly dressed flower stalksstalksStand shimmering in the Stand shimmering in the breeze.breeze.The cheerful sun hides The cheerful sun hides playfullyplayfullyBehind white, fluffy, cotton-ball Behind white, fluffy, cotton-ball clouds,clouds,While trees whisper secretsWhile trees whisper secretsTo their rustling leaves.To their rustling leaves.Carpets of grass greenly glowCarpets of grass greenly glowBlending joyfully with the day.Blending joyfully with the day.Spring brings life to death.Spring brings life to death.

CheerfulCheerful

ToneTone

The writer’s attitude towards the subjectThe writer’s attitude towards the subject

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; (light, informing tone) I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; (light, informing tone) I'll only stop to rake the leaves away ("only" tone - reservation) I'll only stop to rake the leaves away ("only" tone - reservation) (And wait to watch the water clear, I may): (supplementary, (And wait to watch the water clear, I may): (supplementary, possibility) possibility)

Robert FrostRobert Frost

JargonJargon

the language peculiar to a particular trade, the language peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or groupprofession, or group

Football Player – First downFootball Player – First down

SymbolismSymbolism

A word means something elseA word means something else

Owl = wisdomOwl = wisdom Phoenix = rebirthPhoenix = rebirth Eagle = freedomEagle = freedom

RhymeRhyme

repetition of an identical or similarly repetition of an identical or similarly accented sound or sounds in a workaccented sound or sounds in a work

And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear. A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear.

RepetitionRepetition

Sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated Sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for effect or emphasisfor effect or emphasis

  

The rain is falling all aroundThe rain is falling all aroundIt falls on field and tree, It falls on field and tree, It rains on the umbrellas here,It rains on the umbrellas here,And on the ships at sea. And on the ships at sea.

• Robert Louis StevensonRobert Louis Stevenson

RhythmRhythm

The beat, a musical quality produced by the The beat, a musical quality produced by the repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables.repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables.

The wind in her hair The wind in her hair The chair that sat there The chair that sat there Eyes on eyes Eyes on eyes Fire and lye Fire and lye in the river sky in the river sky

AlliterationAlliteration

Tongue twisters (Constant sounds are Tongue twisters (Constant sounds are repeated at the beginning of the word)repeated at the beginning of the word)

I have I have stoodstood stillstill and and stoppedstopped the the soundsound of feet of feetWhen far away an interrupted cryWhen far away an interrupted cry

Came over houses from another streetCame over houses from another street • Robert FrostRobert Frost

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

When words mean how they sound.When words mean how they sound.

Buzz, Zip, MeowBuzz, Zip, Meow

Assonance/ConsonanceAssonance/Consonance

repetition or a pattern of similar vowel repetition or a pattern of similar vowel soundssounds (assonance) (assonance)

repetition of final consonant sound: shorrepetition of final consonant sound: shortt, , sweesweett (consonance) (consonance)

From the From the molten-goldenmolten-golden notes, notes, And an in tune, And an in tune,

What a liquid ditty floatsWhat a liquid ditty floats • Edgar Allen-PoeEdgar Allen-Poe

Line StructureLine Structure

The way the poet has chosen to group the The way the poet has chosen to group the lines.lines.

StanzaStanza Couplet – two lines that are typically Couplet – two lines that are typically

rhymedrhymed Quatrain – four lines with any number of Quatrain – four lines with any number of

rhyming patternsrhyming patterns

DialectDialect

The type of language used by a certain The type of language used by a certain group of people.group of people.

In American English: Southern, In American English: Southern, Californian, Minnesotan, Boston, etc… Californian, Minnesotan, Boston, etc…

IdiomIdiom

An expression that means something than An expression that means something than what it says; it doesn’t translate literally.what it says; it doesn’t translate literally.

Idioms are very hard for non-native Idioms are very hard for non-native language speakers to understand.language speakers to understand.

““It’s raining cats and dogs!”It’s raining cats and dogs!”

ClichéCliché

An expression or phrase that has been An expression or phrase that has been over used. It is used so often it is no over used. It is used so often it is no longer effective.longer effective.

““Money doesn’t grow on trees.”Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

HyperboleHyperbole

Extreme exaggeration.Extreme exaggeration. ““I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!”I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” ““If I have told you once, I have told you a If I have told you once, I have told you a

million times . . .”million times . . .”

HomonymsHomonyms

Words that sound the same, but they are Words that sound the same, but they are spelled differently and they have different spelled differently and they have different meanings.meanings.

Which, witchWhich, witch Their, there, they’reTheir, there, they’re Through, threwThrough, threw