Poetic Devices

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Ex: “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes; A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”

A story/narrative in poetic form.

The repetition of consonant sounds, but not vowels, in a chunk of text. Ex: A worm named Maurice took the garden by storm.

The author’s specific word choice.

The repetition of vowel sounds in a chunk of text. Ex: “Ivan will try to light the fire.”

The attitude the poem’s narrator (this may or may not be the actual poet) takes towards a subject or character: serious, humorous, sarcastic, ironic, concerned, tongue-in-cheek, solemn, objective, etc.

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things using connecting words, such as “like” or “as.” Ex: Love is like a battlefield.

A single line of poetry.

This occurs when one line ends without a pause or any punctuation and continues onto the next line. Ex: If this were a poem, this would be an example of the technique.

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things without using connecting words, such as “like” or “as.” Ex: Love is a battlefield.

A brief reference to a real or fictional person, event, place, or work of art.

Poetry that does not rhyme or have a measurable meter.

A word that sounds like what it means. Ex: buzz, click, bang, sizzle

The central meaning or dominant message the poet is trying to deliver to the reader.

An object or action that means something more than its literal meaning.