Poetic Techniques (DNF) Flashcards
Repetition
The deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times to create emphasis, reinforce meaning, or evoke certain emotions.
eg. Gas, Gas, GAS!
Imagery
Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader
eg. “The stars twinkled like diamonds in the sky.”
Metaphor
A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another
eg. “Her laughter was music to my ears.”
Simile
A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as” to create a vivid image or enhance understanding
eg. “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
Personification
A literary device in which human characteristics or emotions are attributed to non-human entities, animals, or objects
eg. “The wind whispered secrets through the trees.”
Alliteration
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words or syllables within a line of poetry or prose
eg. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words or syllables to create internal rhyming or musicality within a line of poetry or prose
eg. “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.”
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate or evoke the sound they represent, enhancing the auditory experience for the reader
eg. “The bees buzzed around the hive.”
Enjambment
The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause or punctuation at the end of the line
eg. “I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o’er vales…”
Symbolism
The use of symbols, objects, or images to represent deeper meanings or ideas beyond their literal interpretation
eg. The rose symbolizing love or passion in poetry
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis, humor, or to make a point
eg. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
Irony
A literary technique involving a contradiction between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs, often to create humor, suspense, or to highlight deeper truths
eg. A fire station burning down
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of poetry, typically represented by assigning a letter to each rhyme
eg. ABAB (where the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth) in a quatrain.
