PoetryTypes and Devices

Types of Poetry

Types of PoetryBallads

Short, narrative poem (Tells a story)Two or four lines with a refrain (resolution or

summary of the poem)Epic

Long narrative poemCelebrates the adventures and achievements of

a hero

Types of PoetryFree verse

Content is usually free of traditional rules of writing poetry (no fixed meter or rhyme scheme present)

SonnetA poem consisting of 14 lines with Iambic

Pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme (abab cdcd efef gg)

Types of PoetryHaiku (or Natural Haiku)

Originated as a Japanese style of poetry3 unrhymed lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables Usually written in present tense and focused on nature

Senryu (or Human Haiku)Also originated as a Japanese style of poetry3 unrhymed lines of 5,7, and 5 syllablesUsually written in present tense but instead of focusing

on nature, the senryu focuses on human nature and emotion

OdeA poem praising a person, place, or thing

Types of Poetry (Concluded)Narrative Poetry

Tells a storyExamples: “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe

“Love Story” by Taylor Swift

Emotive Poetry Heavy emphasis on the writer’s emotions, or trying

to play upon the readers’ or listeners’ emotionsExamples: “My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun”

by William Shakespeare“Missing You” by P. Diddy featuring Faith Evans“Someone Like You” by Adele

Poetic Devices

Poetic DevicesAlliteration – the repetition of initial sounds in neighboring

wordsExample: “I said a hip hop,

Hippie to the hippie, The hip, hip a hop, and you don't stop, a rock it”

(excerpt from “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang)

AssonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds but not consonant sounds

Consonance The repetition of consonant sounds but not vowel sounds

Note: Alliteration only occurs at the beginning of neighboring words, whereas Assonance and Consonance can occur anywhere in the word

Poetic DevicesAllusion

Brief reference to a person, event, or place which can be either real or made up, or to a work of art.

Example: “Labor day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley,Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade,Long live the king yo,”

(excerpt from “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z)

Oxymoron Two contradictory words togetherExamples: Jumbo Shrimp, Icy Hot

Poetic DevicesConnotation

When you get the meaning of a word from what was read before and after the word.

Sometimes the connotation of a word can be affected by what was written around it.

Denotation The literal meaning of a word; the dictionary

meaning.

Poetic DevicesHyperbole

An exaggeration or overstatementExample: I must’ve spent about a million

dollars to get my car repaired.

Understatementa belittlement (making light of something)Example: (While standing out in a snowstorm)

Gosh! It’s a bit chilly today, isn’t it?

Poetic DevicesMetaphor and Simile

Metaphor – comparison of two unlike things

Simile – comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”

Examples: “On a stormy sea of moving emotion (Metaphor) Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean

(Simile)”

(excerpt from “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas)

Poetic DevicesImagery

Language that evokes one or all of the five senses

Example: The red apple was crisp and sweet.

OnomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it representsExamples: Bang! Boom! Zap! Splat!

Poetic DevicesMeter

Rhythm established by a poem. Dependent on the number of syllables in a line

as well as the way those syllables are accented. (stressed or unstressed)

RhythmIn poetry, it is a recognizable pulse which gives

a distinct beat to a line and also gives it shape.

Poetic DevicesRhyme Scheme

The way in which the words which rhyme at the end of lines in a poem are organized.

Examples: (aabb, abab, ababcdcd)

Internal RhymeWhen two words on the same line rhyme with

each otherExample: “Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak

December”(excerpt from “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe)

Poetic DevicesPersonification

To give human qualities to animals or objects

Example: My car decided to stall yesterday.

MoodThe emotional attitude the writer takes

towards the subjectExamples: Sarcastic, Happy, Humorous, Sad, etc.