Poetic Devices

Question 1

Personification

Answer 1

When an inanimate object or something non-human is described as if it has human qualities or feelings.

Question 2

Simile

Answer 2

A comparison when one thing is said to be as or like another.

Question 3

Metaphor

Answer 3

An image in which one thing is described as if it is another; not literally true.

Question 4

Extended metaphor

Answer 4

The whole poem uses a continuous metaphor.

Question 5

Alliteration

Answer 5

When words close together repeat the consonant, for emphasis.

Question 6

Assonance

Answer 6

Repetition of vowel sounds to create a particular effect, e.g. ‘cool moonlight’.

Question 7

Onomatopoeia

Answer 7

Words whose sounds echo what they describe, e.g. bang! crash! Bubbling …

Question 8

Repetition

Answer 8

Emphasises key ideas

Question 9

Rhythm

Answer 9

Creates a ‘beat’ and makes lines flow (or not!).

Question 10

Rhyme

Answer 10

Creates links between words and a sense of unity.

Question 11

Lexical field/Semantic field

Answer 11

Words which are scattered throughout the poem on the same theme/idea.

Question 12

Fricative consonants

Answer 12

Soft, breathy sounds: s, z, th, f.

Question 13

Plosive consonants

Answer 13

Hard, explosive sounds: p, t, k, b, g, d.

Question 14

Stanza

Answer 14

A verse or block of text which does not necessarily rhyme.