Poetry Terms & Examples

Poetry Terms & Examples Figurative & Stylistic Language: Devices that enhance and add interest to the written and spoken word

Imagery/Sensory DevicesPurpose is to create an IMAGE in the reader’s mind using words to convey the five senses. • 1. Simile • 2. Metaphor • 3. Personification

1. Simile • A comparison of two things using the words like or as.

Examples of a Simile • Bob is hungry as a wolf. • Bob and wolf are the two things being compared, using “as” • Sue smells like a rose. • Sue & rose are the two things being compared, using “like”

2. Metaphor • A comparison of two things without using like or as.(Things = person, place, thing, or thought)

Examples of a Metaphor • Bob is a hungry wolf. • Bob is compared to a wolf. • Sue is a rose, filling the room with her sweet scent. • Sue (or Sue’s scent) and rose are being compared.

3. Personification • A type of metaphor in which non-human things or ideas possess human qualities or actions.

Examples of Personification • The wind whispered her name. • Wind is being personified: “wind whispered”, because “wind” can’t actually “whisper.” • Justice is blind. • Justice is being personified: blind justice, because justice has no actual eyes that could be blinded.

Sound DevicesPurpose is to create a RHYTHM or set the TONE in the poem. • Alliteration • Assonance • Onomatopoeia • Rhyme A. (True/Pure) Rhyme B. Internal Rhyme C. Near/Half Rhyme (or Impure rhyme) D. Eye Rhyme

1. Alliteration • The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of neighboring words. (Consonants are all the letters except a, e, i, o, u, and y.)

Examples of Alliteration • The dark dance of death whisked her away. • Repetition of the “d” sound in “dark dance of death” • Like a lucky charm, he looks on. • Repetition of the “l” sound in “Like,” “lucky,” and “looks”

2. Assonance • The repetition of vowel sounds (within stressed syllables) of neighboring words. (Vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and y.)

Examples of Assonance • Talking and walking, hours on end. • Repetition of the “ah” sound in “talking” “walking” • A turtle in the fertile soil. • Repetition of the “er” sound in “turtle” “fertile”

3. Onomatopoeia • Words which imitate the sound they refer to.

Examples of Onomatopoeia • The eagle whizzed past the buzzing bees. • “whizzed” and “buzzing” • Rip-roar fire, the gun stutters on. • “Rip-roar” and “stutters”

4. Rhyme • A. Rhyme(true or pure rhyme):Words which end with the same sounds, usually at the end of lines.

Examples of Rhyme • The deepest night burning bright. • “night” and “bright” • A time to feel, and a time to heal. • “feel” and “heal”

4. Rhyme • B. Internal Rhyme: Rhyme within a line.

Examples of Internal Rhyme • Bright night, a full moon above. • “bright” and “night” • We will stay today and then we must go. • “stay” and “today”

4. Rhyme • C. Near/Half Rhyme: Slight or inaccurate repetition of sounds (also called impure rhyme).

Examples of Near/Half Rhyme • On top of the hill, the moon is full. • “hill” and “full” • Give this to the man, he’ll know what I mean. • “man” and “mean” • This as also called consonance when the consonants match (man/mean) but the vowel sound doesn’t.

4. Rhyme • D. Eye Rhyme: Words that look like they rhyme (similar spelling), but do NOT rhyme (also called sight rhyme).

Examples of Eye Rhyme • Listen to the water flow, from above I don’t see how. • “flow” and “how” • When the game is over, a true champion we’ll discover. • “over” and “discover”

Miscellaneous Devices • 1. Hyperbole • 2. Irony/Paradox • 3. Anaphora

1. Hyperbole • An obvious and deliberate exaggeration(to emphasize something or for humorous purposes).

Examples of a Hyperbole • I love you more than life itself. • Love is exaggerated. • He could eat a horse. • His appetite is exaggerated.

2. Irony • Saying the opposite of what you actually mean.

Examples of Irony • Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. • Surrounded by water in the ocean, but none of it is drinkable. • The directions were as clear as mud. • Obviously, they weren’t very clear directions (this is also a simile!).

2. Paradox • A statement that seems to contradict or oppose itself, yet actually reveals some truth.

Examples of a Paradox • It’s hard work doing nothing. • Youth is wasted on the young. • The more we know, the less we understand. • The less you have, the more you are free. (Or …the more you have.) • I can resist anything but temptation. • Her silence was deafening.

3. Anaphora • The repetition of words at the beginning of clauses. • Purpose is to add emphasis/meaning or build to a climax. • EXAMPLE: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech”

4. Epistrophe • The repetition of words at the end of clauses. • Purpose is to add emphasis/meaning or build to a climax. Example: "For no government is better than the men who compose it, and I want the best, and we need the best, and we deserve the best." • (Senator John F. Kennedy, speech at Wittenberg College, Oct. 17, 1960)

How Figurative & Stylistic Devices are used in Song Lyrics Examples using the songs: “The River” by Garth Brooks “Crossroads” by Tracy Chapman “She” by Green Day “One” by Metallica

“The River” by Garth Brooks You know a dream is like a river / Ever changing as it flows Which two things are being compared? Dream and river using the word “like” Examples of Simile

And I will sail my vessel / ‘Til the river runs dry / Like a bird upon the wind / These waters are my sky Which two things are being compared using a simile? I (the speaker) and bird using “like” Re-wording the sentence helps to see the simile: I sail these waters likea bird flies through the sky. Trickier Example in “The River”

“Crossroads” by Tracy Chapman Some say the devil be a mystical thing / I say the devil he a walking man Which two things are being compared? Devil and man Take off the adjectives to get the two NOUNS that are being compared (not comparing devil with “walking man,” just “man”). Examples of Metaphor

I say the devil he a walking man (yes: devil & man) He a fool (devil/man & fool?) He a liar (devil/man & liar?) (a) conjurer (devil/man & conjurer?) and a thief (devil/man & thief?) Devil & man is a metaphor Devil/man and fool is NOT a metaphor. “Fool” is an ADJECTIVE describing the man/devil Same for liar, conjurer, and thief--he could actually BE all these things, so it is not a metaphor. Are These Metaphors?More from “Crossroads”

All you folks think you run my life / say I should be willing to compromise / I say all you demons go back to hell / I’ll save my soul, save myself Which two things are being compared? Folks and demons Even though the speaker never says “folks are demons,” it is implied. When someone uses the cliché, “Go to hell,” they are calling that person a devil or demon--or a resident of Hell. The meaning of the metaphor is for the “folks” to stay out of other people’s business & let the speaker live her own life. Trickier Example of Metaphorfrom “Crossroads”

“She” by Green Day Waiting for a sign / To smash the silence with the brick of self-control What “thing” is given human-like qualities? Sign The “sign to smash the silence” because a “sign” cannot physically “smash” anything. Examples of Personification

1. Simile 2. Personification 3. Alliteration 4. Rhyme 5. Internal Rhyme 6. Near/Half Rhyme 7. Irony 8. Paradox Practice:Listen to “One” by MetallicaIn this One song (that’s a pun), find examples of:

1. Simile: Speaker/narrator and a wartime novelty 2. Personification: “Darkness imprisoning me” 3. Alliteration: “…scream / This terrible silence stops me” 4. Rhyme: dream/scream, me/see, real/feel/reveal, etc. 5. Internal rhyme: “Hold my breath as I wish for death” 6. Near/Half Rhyme: speech/hearing, myself/cell 7. Irony: Machines keep him alive, but he wishes to die 8. Paradox: Speaker can’t live, yet he can’t die; war is also the implied paradox: soldier sent to kill in order to save lives. Kudos if you found an Eye Rhyme: live/die Examples in “One”

Practice: Group workWith a partner or group, find school-appropriate song lyrics and pick out examples of figurative and stylistic devices.Which group can come up with the most examples in a single song in 15 minutes or less?

Teachers: Here are the lyrics to the song examples. The River by Garth Brooks You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows. And a dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store makes each day a constant battle just to stay between the shores. And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry. Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never try, So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry. Too many times we stand aside and let the water slip away. To what we put off 'til tomorrow has now become today. So don't you sit upon the shore and say you're satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tides. And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry. Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never try, So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry. There's bound to be rough waters, and I know I'll take some falls. With the good Lord as my captain, I can make it through them all. And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry. Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never try, So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry. Crossroads by Tracy Chapman [performed by Tracy Chapman, 1988] All you folks think you own my life But you never made any sacrifice Demons they are on my trail I’m standing at the crossroads of hell I look to the left I look to the right There’re hands that grab me on every side All you folks think I got my price At which I’ll sell all that is mine You think money rules when all else fails Go sell your soul and keep your shell I’m trying to protect what I keep inside All the reasons why I live my life Some say the devil be a mystical thing I say the devil he a walking man He a fool he a liar conjurer and a thief He try to tell you what you want Try to tell you what you need Standing at the point The road it cross you down What is at your back Which way do you turn Who will come to find you first Your devils or your gods All you folks think you run my life Say I should be willing to compromise I say all you demons go back to hell I’ll save my soul save myself conjurer: someone who conjures magic conjure: someone who orders or commands something or someone She by Billie Jo Armstrong (performed by Green Day, 1993) Inspired by a poem titled “She” She She screams in silence A sullen riot penetrating through her mind Waiting for a sign To smash the silence with the brick of self-control Are you locked up in a world That’s been planned out for you Are you feeling like a social tool without a use Scream at me until my ears bleed I’m taking heed just for you She She’s figured out All her doubts were someone else’s point of view Waking up this time To smash the silence with the brick of self-control Are you locked up in a world That’s been planned out for you Are you feeling like a social tool without a use Scream at me until my ears bleed I’m taking heed just for you Are you locked up in a world That’s been planned out for you Are you feeling like a social tool without a use Scream at me until my ears bleed I’m taking heed just for you heed: paying close attention sullen: somber; gloomy or showing irritation

One by James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich (performed by Metallica, 1989; written in 1987) I can’t remember anything Can’t tell if this is true or dream Deep down inside I feel to scream This terrible silence stops me Now that the war is through with me I’m waking up I can not see That there is not much left of me Nothing is real but pain now Hold my breath as I wish for death Oh please God, wake me Back in the womb it’s much too real In pumps life that I must feel But can’t look forward to reveal Look to the time when I’ll live Fed through the tube that sticks in me Just like a wartime novelty Tied to machines that make me be Cut this life off from me Hold my breath as I wish for death Oh please God, wake me Now the world is gone I’m just one Oh God, help me hold my breath as I wish for death Oh please God help me Darkness imprisoning me All that I see Absolute horror I cannot live I cannot die Trapped in myself Body my holding cell Landmine has taken my sight Taken my speech Taken my hearing Taken my arms Taken my legs Taken my soul Left me with life in hell

Poetry Terms & Examples