Identifying major poetry terms and devices |
Poetry Terms and Devices by Vivian Gilbert Zabel Goal: The writer becomes familiar with some poetry terms and poetic devices. He starts to apply his knowledge of these terms and devices in his writing of poetry in following lessons/chapters. Materials needed, given below: Poetry Terms Examples of Some Poetry Devices NOTES: As we discussed in the first part of this unit, poetry has emotion, imagery, significance, beauty, dignity, rhythm, sometimes rhyme, a different arrangement which can include inversion {wording is put in a different order in phrases and/or sentences), and concreteness in its images. One way we are able to attain the qualities so essential to making words poetry is through the use of poetry devices. We won’t begin to cover all the known poetic devices or terms. Rather we’ll discuss and use some of the more commonly known and used ones. Directions: 1. Read and understand Poetry Terms. Pay particular attention to imagery. 2. Read and understand Examples of Some Poetry Devices. Find the device that appears in each example. Some appear more than once. Poetry Terms Poetry devices (a major sampling): alliteration: the repetition of a beginning sound allusion: a casual reference to someone or something in history or literature that creates a mental picture. analogy: the comparison of two things by explaining one to show how it is similar to the other. caesura: the pausing or stopping within a line of poetry caused by needed punctuation. enjambement: the continuation of thought from one line of poetry to the next without punctuation needed at the end of the previous line(s). hyperbole: extreme exaggeration for effect. metaphor: the comparison of two unlike things by saying one is the other. metonymy: the substitution of a word for one with which it is closely associated. onomatopoeia: the sound a thing makes oxymoron: the use of contradictory terms (together) personification: the giving of human traits to non-human things incapable of having those traits. simile: the comparison of two unlike things by saying one is like or as the other. symbol: something which represents something else besides itself. Other terms: elegy: a poem of lament (extreme sorrow, such as caused by death) free verse: a poem without either a rhyme or a rhythm scheme, although rhyme may be used. blank verse: unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter (ten syllables with all even numbered syllables accented) imagery: the use of words to create a mental picture mood: the emotional effect of a poem or a story Examples of Some Poetry Devices alliteration: Rain reigns roughly through the day. Raging anger from the sky Partners prattle of tormented tears From clouds wondering why Lightning tears their souls apart. allusion: A Common Woman No Helen of Troy she, Taking the world by war, But a woman in plain paper wrapped With a heart of love untapped, She waits, yearning for her destiny Whether it be a he on a charger white Or one riding behind a garbage truck. Perhaps instead a room of students Lurks in the shadows of her life Needing her interest to be shown. Yet other concerns may call To bestow her talents all. No, no Helen of Troy she, But a woman set the world to tame Wherever she may be. Note: Helen of Troy is the allusion.
analogy: Day’s Journey The day dawns as a journey. First one leaves the station on a train, Rushing past other places Without a pause or stop, Watching faces blur through the window, No time to say goodbye. On and on the train does speed Until the line’s end one sees, Another sunset down Without any lasting memories. NOTE: The whole poem is analogy, the comparison of a day and a train journey.
caesura: Living, breathing apathy Saps energy, will, interest, Leaving no desire to win. All that’s left are ashes, Cinders of what might have been. NOTE: The caesura is found in the use of a comma in the first line (in red) and the second line (also in red). enjambement: Looking through the eyes Of wonder, of delight, Children view their world With trust, with hope That only life will change. NOTE: Enjambement is found at the end of lines 1, 3, and 4. hyperbole: Giants standing tall as mountains Towering over midgets Bring eyes above the common ground To heights no longer small. Arms of tree trunks wrap In comfort gentle, softness Unthought of due to size, Yet welcomed in their strength. metaphor: Sunshine, hope aglow, Streams from heaven’s store Bringing smiles of warming grace Which lighten heavy loads. Clouds are ships in full sail Racing across the sky-blue sea. Wind fills the cotton canvas Pushing them further away from me. metonymy: Scandals peep from every window, Hide behind each hedge, Waiting to pounce on the unwary, As the White House cringes in dismay. onomatopoeia: Roaring with the pain Caused by flashing lightning strikes, Thunders yells, “Booooom! Craaaashhhh! Yeow!” Then mumbles, rumbling on its way. Grrrr, the lion’s cry echoes Through the jungle’s den Causing creatures small To scurry to their holes. NOTE: Roaring, rumbling, cry are not examples of onomatopoeia, but are verb forms. oxymoron: Freezing heat of hate Surrounds the heart Stalling, killing kindness, Bringing destruction to the start. personification: Anger frowns and snarls, Sending bolts of fire from darkest night That bring no brilliance, Rather only added blackness of sight. simile: Sunshine, like hope aglow, Streams from heaven’s sky Bringing smiles of warming grace On breeze whispers like a sigh. Clouds are like ships in full sail Racing across the sky-blue sea. Wind fills the cotton canvas Pushing them further away from me. symbol: The dove, with olive branch in beak, Glides over all the land Searching for a place to light. Storms of war linger on every hand, Everywhere the hawk does fight. |