Slam into Poetry – Comprehensive Study Notes

What is the main purpose of using "Power-Ups" in slam poetry performances

The purpose of "Power-Ups" in slam poetry is to heighten emotional intensity, engage the audience, and transform text into performance, making the poetry theatrical and more memorable.

Repetition

Definition & Example: Repeating words or phrases (e.g., “I will rise, I will rise…”)
- Impact: Magnifies urgency, sticks in memory.

Alliteration

• Definition & Example: Repeating initial consonant sounds (e.g., “Brave boys battle bruises”)

• Impact: Creates rhythm, easier to recall.

Metaphor

• Definition & Example: Direct comparison without using "like" or "as" (e.g., “Her eyes were oceans of sorrow”)

• Impact: Adds layered meaning and imagery.

Rhyme

• Definition & Example: Matching sounds at the end of lines (e.g., “The pain remains, like heavy chains”)

• Impact: Builds flow, gives musical closure.

Enjambent

• Definition & Example: A line break in the middle of a sentence or phrase (e.g., “And I couldn’t breathe…” (pause between lines))

• Impact: Builds suspense, imitates breath.

Onomatopoeia

• Definition & Example: A word that imitates a sound they represent(e.g., "buzz," "sizzle")

• Impact: Enhances auditory imagery, creates vivid scenes.

Similie

• Definition & Example: Comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., “As fierce as a lion”)

• Impact: Clarifies emotion using comparison.

Personification

• Definition & Example: Attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities (e.g., "The wind whispered through the trees").

• Impact: Creates relatability, enhances emotional connection.

Hyperbole

• Definition & Example: Exaggeration for emphasis (e.g., “I’ve told you a million times!”)

• Impact: Exaggerates for emotional emphasis.Enhances expression and drama.

Internal Rhyme

• Definition & Example: Rhyme within a single line of poetry (e.g., “I’ll fight with all my might…”)

• Impact: Adds rhythm within the line.

Parallelism

• Definition & Example: Repeating grammatical structures (e.g., “I speak… I fight… I live…”)

• Impact: Creates structure, builds power.

Assonance

• Definition & Example: Repeating vowel sounds within words (e.g., “The rain in Spain…”)

• Impact: Repeats vowels for musicality.

Consonance

• Definition & Example: Repeating consonant sounds within or at the end of words (e.g., “The lumpy, bumpy road…”)

• Impact: Creates rhythm and reinforces the musical quality of the poem.