Name: _____________________________________________ Date:

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POETRY NOTES
Words are powerful depending on how they are used.
Jahleel Bodden
Words have an extraordinary and powerful meaning beyond the definition.
Robert McCann
here are many ways of expressing your feelings and many ways to describe the mood
and tone of someone!something.
"shley #olonia
$%ve learned to watch what $ say because words are a very powerful weapon.
&livia Munro
Words are important!
Lets play with words!
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#ermanent $ndex
Key Idea #1: Authors and musicians use poetic
devices to convey ideas.
Key Idea #2: When authors and musicians use
poetic devices, they are playin !ith:
1. the meaning of words (figurative language)
2. the form/structure of the poem or song
3. imagery
4. the sound of words (rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia,
assonance, consonance)
Key Idea #": Authors play !ith !ords on purpose
and it#s the reader#s$listener#s %o& to 'ure that
out.
*
1. Figurative Language- when the author plays with the meaning of words.
igurative language should not !e ta"en literally.
Poetic
Device
Denition E!amples
(ersoni'catio
n
)ivin a
nonhuman thin
human
characteristics
*he days crept &y slo!ly.
(days cannot creep, humans can)
E!ample "rom Words poem #see pa$e
%&'(
+imile
a comparison
&et!een t!o
unlike thins
usin ,li-e, or
,as,
.e/s as stron as an o0.
1*he late a2ternoon s-y &loomed in the
!indo! 2or a moment li-e the &lue honey
o2 the 3editerranean.4 *he )reat )ats&y
&y 5. +cott 5it6erald.
Not a simile( She was li)e her sister*
Other e!amples
3etaphor
a direct
comparison
&et!een t!o
unlike thins
NOT ,li-e, or
,as,
A2ter the race my les !ere ru&&er.
.er hair !as a dro!ned rat.
.e is so shy, he is a mouse.
Other e!amples(
+ym&ol
A physical o&%ect
that represent an
intani&le idea
or concept.
A computer screen miht sym&oli6e
technoloy.
.e is a roc- 7stron and dependa&le8.
9ihtnin miht sym&oli6e...
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Other e!amples(
.yper&ole
An e0treme
e0aeration
.e !eihs a ton.
I#m so hunry I could eat a horse.
We received a million hours o2 home!or-
over the !ee-end:
Other e!amples
;0ymoron
a set o2
consecutive
!ords that
e0press
con<ictin
meanins
=ruel -indness
Dea2enin silence
Wise 2ool
+!eet sorro!
;riinal copy
+
2. Authors play with the form and structure of a poem, including#
$he length of certain lines
$he position of words
$he capitali%ation of letters
$he shape of the poem
3. Imagery & 'uthors use vivid language to generate ideas, mental pictures and
emotions associated with your five senses.
Poetic
Device
Denition E!amples o" +ma$ery
Imaery
the use o2 vivid
lanuae to
enerate ideas,
mental pictures,
emotions via
the 've senses.
>Si$ht( +mo-e mysteriously pu?ed out 2rom
the clo!n/s ears.
>So,nd( *om placed his ear tihtly aainst
the !all@ he could hear a 2aint &ut distinct
thump thump thump.
>To,ch( *he &urlap !all coverin scraped
aainst the little &oy/s chee-.
>Taste( A salty tear ran across onto her lips.
>Smell( =innamon: *hat/s !hat !a2ted into
his nostrils.
3. Sound Devices- 'uthors play with the sound of certain words in order to add
emphasis or convey a certain message.
So,nd
Device
Denition E!amples
Ahyme
the repetition
o2 sounds in
!ords or
phrases that
appear close to
each other
*ime, slime, mime 7per2ect rhymes8
;rane, porride, chorus 7imper2ect
rhymes8.Bminem C other rappers use
these o2ten
Other e!amples(
Aepetition
*he recurrence
o2 !ords and
phrases
I !as so so so so lad.
Other e!amples #Words poem'(
Alliteration
&einnin
several !ords
!ith the same
consonant 7nonD
vo!el8 sound
5ast and 2urious.
(eter (iper pic-ed a pec- o2 pic-led
peppers.
1;ver a Eunsen &urner &u&&led a &i
earthen!are dish o2 ste!4 7A Wrin-le in
*ime, "F8.
Other e!amples
)
Assonance
the repetition o2
vo!el sounds
7A, B, I, ;, G8
in a series o2
!ords
1=ry4 and 1side4 7ma-e a 1I4 sound8
1Eoth4 and 1phone4 7ma-e the ; sound8
1A !arm lo! su?used &oth it and the
lo!er steps o2 the oa- staircase4 7Hane
Byre, 1I28.
Other e!amples
=onsonance
the repetition o2
a consonant
sound !ithin a
series o2 !ords
to produce a
harmonious
e?ect
1Eehind the trees clouds scudded
2rantically across the s-y4 7A Wrin-le in
*ime, "8. *he repeated hard 1c4 sound
recreates the chaotic harsh movement in
the stormy s-y.
Other e!amples
;nomatopoei
a
!ords that
sound li-e their
meanins
+!oosh, Jip, )urle
Other e!amples
,