Poetic Devices Glossary

Poetic Devices

Definitions

  • Personification: A figure of speech that gives human qualities to an animal or an object as if it were a person.

  • Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of a number of words to achieve a particular effect.

  • Assonance: The repetition of a vowel sound. It is different from rhyme as it does not need to be at the end of each line of poetry.

  • Enjambment: A device used in poetry where a sentence continues beyond the end of the line or verse. This technique is often used to maintain a sense of continuation from one stanza to another.

  • Collective personal pronouns: Pronouns that are associated primarily with a particular grammatical person – first person (as I), second person (as you), or third person (as he, she, it).

  • Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like the noise it is describing.

  • Motif: The consistent use throughout a literary work of an object to refer to a concept.

  • Repetition: Repeated use of a word, phrase or line. Used to reinforce an idea or sound. Adds emphasis to the author’s message, creates atmosphere; can make another aspect of the text stand out.

  • Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a comparison. It states that one thing is another thing.

  • Simile: A figure of speech in which two things are compared and one is said to be like the other. Uses the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.

  • Paradox: Two contradicting statements that together highlight a truth.

  • Allusion: A direct reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

  • Sensory imagery: Descriptive language is used by a poet to create an image that stimulates the senses. There are five types of imagery:

    • Visual Imagery = sight
    • Olfactory Imagery = smell
    • Aural Imagery = Sound
    • Gustatory Imagery = taste
    • Tactile Imagery = touch

  • Hyperbole: A figure of speech that uses deliberate, extreme exaggeration.

  • Irony: The use of words that actually reveal a meaning that is opposite to the literal meaning.

Examples

  • Metaphor: She is a shining star in class.

  • Repetition: Run, run, as fast as you can.

  • Personification: The sun smiled down at us.

  • Hyperbole: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

  • Simile: He was as fast as a cheetah.

  • Assonance: I like to ride my bike at night.

  • Collective personal pronouns: We are all ready to learn and grow to improve our education.

  • Sensory imagery: The bread felt warm in his hands and smelled sweet and buttery.

  • Enjambment: The cat sat on the mat and looked at the bird outside the window.

  • Alliteration: Big blue balloons bounced by.

  • Paradox: Sometimes we win by losing.

  • Irony: The plumber's house had leaky pipes.

  • Allusion: The strength he felt in himself was that of Hercules.

  • Onomatopoeia: The doorbell buzzed as the guests arrived.

  • Symbolism: As he saw her, his heart felt warm and he could tell his emotions had changed.