Poetic Techniques

Structure

The way the poem is put together. The sequence of things.

Tone

The overall quality or mood of the poem. Often described in emotions- the poems -can be sad, optimistic, solemn, sarcastic.

Simile

A comparison between two things using 'Like' or 'As' or 'Resembles'

Metaphor

When something is described in terms of something else. It is not 'Like' it, it is it. A direct comparison of two unlike things.

Theme

What the poem is based on or about. The focused Idea or Value

Stanza

Called 'Verse' in a song. What the poem is broken up into, How the poet organises these is an important aspect. The paragraphs.

Imagery

Poets use words to create images in your mind. Can be Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic, Olfactory or Gustatory.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sounds they are naming. Sounds that imitate another word. Eg. Bang, Boom, Crash

End Rhyme

A word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line.

Repetition

When something occurs more than once in a poem to create emphasis.

Anaphora

Repetition used at the start of each line of the stanza.

Persona

The voice in a poem. The character that the author adopts in writing the poem.

Rhetorical Question

A question that is asked for affect and doesn't require an answer.

Ellipsis

The use of three dots. . . usually indicates a pause

Oxymoron

Two words together that usually don't go together. For example, the 'Screaming Silence'.

Rhythm

The beat of the poem. It should be used to enhance the meaning or tone.

Personification

Where human qualities or emotions are given to non-human things.
'The wind howled in agony all dat long'.

Juxtaposition

When two things are placed side by side in order to emphasise their differences.

Word Choice

We often notice the important of the particular words that the poet has chosen to describe something.

Connotation

When a word suggest something in addition to its ordinary meaning.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration to have an effect on the reader. 'The glass fell to the floor, shattering into a million pieces'.

Alliteration

Consonant sounds repeated at the beginning of words.

Humour

This is used when the poet wants the reader to be amused. There is always a purpose.

Euphemism

A polite or softer way of saying something. For example, saying 'Passed away' instead of 'Died'

Rhyme

Words sound alike because they share the same ending vowel and consonant sounds.

Assonance

Repeated VOWEL sounds in a line or lines of poetry. Often creates near rhyme.

Refrain

A sound, word, phrase or line repeated regularly in a poem.

Allusion

A reference to something famous.

Symbolism

When a person, place, thing or event that has meaning in itself also represents, or stands for something else. EG. A dove symbolises peace.