Poetry TermsPoetry Terms

Poetic Techniques - SoundPoetic Techniques - Sound

RhythmRhythm

Definition: the pattern of beats of stresses in a Definition: the pattern of beats of stresses in a line (hint – regular rhythm = metrical verse)line (hint – regular rhythm = metrical verse)

““The Raven”The Raven”By Edgar Allan PoeBy Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -Only this, and nothing more.'Only this, and nothing more.'

RhymeRhyme

Definition: repetition of sounds at the ends of Definition: repetition of sounds at the ends of wordswords

End Rhyme – occurs at the ends of lines

Internal Rhyme – occurs within the lines

Slant Rhyme (aka near/half/off rhyme) – substitutes assonance or consonance for true rhyme

While I nodded, nearly While I nodded, nearly nappingnapping, suddenly there came a , suddenly there came a tappingtapping,,

(“The Raven” – Poe)(“The Raven” – Poe)

`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door door --Only this, and nothing Only this, and nothing moremore.'.'(“The Raven” – Poe) (“The Raven” – Poe)

Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soul,And sings the tune without the words,And never stops at all.(“Hope is the thing with feathers” – Dickinson)

AlliterationAlliteration

Definition: repetition of the same sound Definition: repetition of the same sound beginning several words in a sequencebeginning several words in a sequence

““Step forward, Tin Man. You dare to Step forward, Tin Man. You dare to Come to me for a heart do you? You Come to me for a heart do you? You cclinking, linking, cclanking, lanking, cclattering lattering ccollectionollectionof of ccaliginous junk… And you, aliginous junk… And you, Scarecrow, have the effrontery to ask Scarecrow, have the effrontery to ask for a for a bbrain! You rain! You bbillowing illowing bbale of ale of bbovine fodder!" ovine fodder!"

- delivered by the "Wizard of Oz" - delivered by the "Wizard of Oz" from the movie from the movie The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz

AssonanceAssonance

Definition: repetition of vowel sounds in words Definition: repetition of vowel sounds in words that end with different consonant soundsthat end with different consonant sounds

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weakweak and and wearyweary,,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore…Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore…

(Poe – “The Raven”)(Poe – “The Raven”)

Hear the mellow wedding bells…

(Poe – “The Bells”)

ConsonanceConsonance

Definition: a type of slant rhyme in which the Definition: a type of slant rhyme in which the ending consonants match, but the preceding ending consonants match, but the preceding vowels do notvowels do not

I want a hero: an uncommon want, When every year and month sends forth a new one, Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant, The age discovers he is not the true one; Of such as these I should not care to vaunt, I'll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan, We all have seen him, in the pantomime, Sent to the Devil somewhat ere his time.

(Byron – “Don Juan”)

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

Definition: words that sound like what they Definition: words that sound like what they meanmean

Poetic Techniques - MeaningPoetic Techniques - Meaning

Major Terms…Major Terms…

ImageImageDefinition: words or Definition: words or phrases used to describe phrases used to describe something that appeals to something that appeals to senses (seen, heard, senses (seen, heard, smelled, etc)smelled, etc)

Ex: My mouth watered as I Ex: My mouth watered as I watched my mom pull the savory watched my mom pull the savory turkey out of the oven on turkey out of the oven on Thanksgiving.Thanksgiving.

Figurative LanguageFigurative LanguageDefinition: any writing or Definition: any writing or speech meant to be speech meant to be understood figuratively understood figuratively rather than literallyrather than literally

Ex: hyperbole, understatement, Ex: hyperbole, understatement, metaphor, simile, metaphor, simile, metonymy/synecdoche, metonymy/synecdoche, personification, and synaesthesiapersonification, and synaesthesia

HyperboleHyperbole

Definition: use of overstatement for rhetorical Definition: use of overstatement for rhetorical effecteffect

UnderstatementUnderstatement

Definition: deliberately expresses an idea as Definition: deliberately expresses an idea as less important than it actually is, either for less important than it actually is, either for ironic emphasis or for politeness and tactironic emphasis or for politeness and tact

“ “It isn't very serious. I have It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” this tiny little tumor on the brain.”

- J.D. Salinger, - J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

Metaphor/SimileMetaphor/Simile

Definition: compares one thing to another in Definition: compares one thing to another in order to explain by comparison. Similes use order to explain by comparison. Similes use “like” or “as”; metaphors do not.“like” or “as”; metaphors do not.

Simile: “You’re as Simile: “You’re as cold as icecold as ice…” …” Metaphor: “ Metaphor: “No man is an islandNo man is an island.”.” - Foreigner (song)- Foreigner (song) - John Donne - John Donne

PersonificationPersonification

Definition: describing an idea, animal, or thing Definition: describing an idea, animal, or thing as if it were a personas if it were a person

"Once again, the heart of America is heavy. The spirit of America weeps for a tragedy that denies the very meaning of our land."

-- Lyndon Baines Johnson

The End???The End???

No…No…

This is just the beginning… This is just the beginning…