Poetic Devices

Question 1

Allusion

Answer 1

A reference to a historical event, myth, literature, or the Bible.

Question 2

Apostrophe

Answer 2

The poet addresses someone as absent as though present / someone dead as though alive / something inanimate as though inanimate.

Question 3

Conceit

Answer 3

An unusual metaphor

Question 4

Euphemism

Answer 4

A form of understatement - a softer/less harsher description is used

Question 5

Hyperbole

Answer 5

An exaggeration - overstating something

Question 6

Imagery

Answer 6

Forming mental images using all the 5 senses

Question 7

Metaphor

Answer 7

Qualities of one object is ascribed to another object

Question 8

Metonymy

Answer 8

An object that is closely related to an idea substituted for it

Question 9

Oxymoron

Answer 9

Two words of opposite meaning are placed next to each other

Question 10

Paradox

Answer 10

A statement that contradicts itself

Question 11

Personification

Answer 11

Giving objects human-like qualities

Question 12

Pun

Answer 12

A play on words (used in jokes)

Question 13

Simile

Answer 13

A direct comparison of 2 unlike objects using ‘like’, ‘as’, ‘as if’, or ‘than’

Question 14

Synecdoche

Answer 14

A form of metonymy - a part of an object is used instead of the entire thing (or the reverse)

Question 15

Understatement

Answer 15

Saying something is less than it actually is