English poetic devices

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sound, grabs attention

Anaphora

Repeating the first part/word of the sentence, puts emphasis on words

Antithesis

Having two opposite ideas in one sentence

Epiphora

Repeating the ending words of a sentence, emphasises certain words and ideas

Hyperbole

An exaggeration, creates amusing effect and can create contrast

Metaphor

Comparing two things without using the words “like” or “as”, gives the reader another way of thinking about something

Simile

Comparing two things using the words “like” or “as”, makes it easier to understand what the author is saying

Onomatopoeia

A word which imitates the natural sounds of thing, like “Buzzing” or “Meow”, helps reader hear more sounds and immerses them into the poem

Parallelism

Using components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or have similar sounds, adds rhythm and conveys a message

Personification

When an idea, animal or object is given human characteristics, hels readers empathise for non-human characters

Repetition

Repeating words or phrases, grabs the reader’s attention

Rhetorical question

A question which is meant to be unanswered. Emphasise a point being made, used to persuade people.

Synecdoche

Referring to something by one of its parts. Eg: Wheels to refer to a car

Metonymy

When a name of something is replaced with a name of something else that is associated with it, eg: Crown and power

Enjambment

When a sentence continues on the next line, in poetry. Makes poem’s rhythm faster

Informal language

Personal, colloquial, gives off a more relaxed and casual feel

Formal language

Full words, No first person, makes text more authoritive and powerful

Perfect rhyme

When final stressed vowel and all the next sounds are identical, gives rhythm to the poem

Half-rhyme

Ending consonants match, preceding vowels don’t. E.g: Bald and Cold

Internal rhyme

When a word in the middle of the sentence rhymes, makes it less obviously a rhyming scheme.

Short / Long sentences

Short = Authority, Long = Conversational

Aposiopesis

Suddenly breaking off in speech, e.g: And one fine morning-

Auditory imagery

Describing specific sounds, Onomatopoeia is an example

Olfactory imagery

Describing a particular taste

Visual imagery

Appeals to the sense of sight

Gustatory imagery

Describing taste

Tactile imagery

Appeals to the sense of touch

Kinaesthetic imagery

Describes movement of creatures and objects

Hypophora

When a question is raised and immediately answered by the author, captures attention and creates curiosity

Anastrophe

Changing the structure of a sentence to an unusual grammatic order, Yoda speech, makes it sound wise and profound

Tricolon

A series of three similar words, phrases or clauses, emphasis points in a memorable way

Quaistio

When you ask question after question

Synthetic personalisation

Creates a fake relationship between audience and author

Polysyndeton

When you keep using ‘and’, ‘but’ and ‘or’ in a sentence to make it long, conveys a sense of urgency or passion