Figurative Language and Poetic Devices

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Figurative Languageand Poetic Devices

• Poetry

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Simile

• Comparison using LIKE or AS
• Example
• The snow covered the earth like a blanket.

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Metaphor

• Comparison that says something is something else
• Example
• The thunder was a drumbeat in the sky.

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Personification

• Giving human qualities to something that is not
  human
• Example
• The tree branch grasped at my hat.

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Idiom

• Group of words with a meaning that is different
  from the literal meaning of the individual words
• Example
• It rained cats and dogs last night.

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Analogy

• Comparison or contrast that shows the
  relationship between two sets of words
• Example
• Argue is to quarrel as comfort is to soothe
• (argue quarrel comfort soothe)

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Hyperbole

• Intentional exaggeration used for effect
• Example
• My hand will fall off if I have to write any
  more notes!

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Alliteration

• The repetition of the beginning consonant sound
• Example
• Sally sells seashells by the seashore.

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POETIC DEVICES
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Rhyme

• Repeating identical or similar final word sounds
  within (internal rhyme) or at the ends of lines

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Rhyme

• January brings the snow.
• makes our feet and fingers grow.
• There was a little girl, who had a little curl
• Right in the middle of her forehead.

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Rhythm and Meter

• Patterns of ACCENTED and unaccented syllables in
  lines of poetry

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Rhythm and Meter

• WhenER the MOON and STARS are SET,
• WhenER the WIND is HIGH

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AABB
ABCB
ABAB
RHYME SCHEMES
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ABCB

• Line 1 (A) and 3 (C) do not rhyme but Lines 2
  and 4 (B) do rhyme

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ABCB

• Mary had a little lamb (A)
• Its fleece was white as snow (B)
• And everywhere that Mary went (C)
• The lamb was sure to go. (B)

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ABAB

• Lines 1 and 3 (A) rhyme
• And
• Lines 2 and 4 (B) rhyme.

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ABAB

• I wandered lonely as a cloud
• That floats on high oer vales and hills,
• When all at once I saw a crowd,
• A host, of golden daffodils.

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AABB

• Lines 1 and 2 (A) rhyme
• And
• Lines 3 and 4 (B) rhyme.

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AABB

• Mondays child is fair of face
• Tuesdays child is full of grace
• Wednesdays child if full of woe
• Thursdays child has far to go

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TEST-TAKING TIPS
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1

• The language that a writer uses in a piece of
  literature is very important, especially in
  poetry. Watch for phrases that suggest something
  different from what the words say.

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2

• Remember that sound is as important in poetry as
  meaning. Pay close attention to the rhythm and
  sounds in a poem and try to figure out what the
  writer is expressing with them.

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3

• Recognizing figurative language can help you
  determine mood. Notice the difference in mood
  between the descriptions of the same setting.

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• Notice the difference in
• mood between the
• descriptions of the same
• setting.
• He entered the house.
• The cobweb-covered door creaked a warning as he
  stepped into the house.