Poetic Terms Review

Poetic Terms Review

Alliteration

Allusion

Assonance

Irony

Metaphor

Repetition

Rhyme

Simile

Alliteration

Alliteration is a literary device that reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant sounds. Alliteration does not refer to the repetition of consonant letters that begin words, but rather the repetition of the consonant sound at the beginning of words.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of alliteration? Remember, alliteration is the repetition based off of SOUND, not necessarily letters.

• kids’ coats

• phony people

Allusion

An allusion is a reference, typically brief, to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work with which the reader is presumably familiar.

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of an allusion to Classical Mythology?

• My math teacher is he who must not be named.

• She felt like she had a golden ticket.

• hot as Hades

Assonance

Assonance is a literary device in which the repetition of similar vowel sounds takes place in two or more words in proximity to each other within a line of poetry or prose. Assonance most often refers to the repetition of internal vowel sounds in words that do not end the same. For example, “he fell asleep under the cherry tree” is a phrase that features assonance with the repetition of the long “e” vowel, despite the fact that the words containing this vowel do not end in perfect rhymes.

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of assonance?

• Say hey, good lookin’. Whatcha got cookin’?

• picture perfect

• Peppa Pig

• Shaun the Sheep

Irony

Irony is a literary device in which contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true. There are many forms of irony featured in literature. The effectiveness of irony as a literary device depends on the reader’s expectations and understanding of the disparity between what “should” happen and what “actually” happens in a literary work. This can be in the form of an unforeseen outcome of an event, a character’s unanticipated behavior, or something incongruous that is said.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Telling a quiet group, “don’t everybody speak all at once” is an example of irony

• True

• False

Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things. As a literary device, metaphor creates implicit comparisons without the express use of “like” or “as.” Metaphor is a means of asserting that two things are identical in comparison rather than just similar. 

Multiple Select

Check ALL of the examples of metaphors

• Laughter is the best medicine.

• She is just a late bloomer.

• No man is an island.

• Like watching paint dry

• Dull as a doorknob

Repetition

Repetition is a literary device that involves intentionally using a word or phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work. For repetition to be noticeable, the words or phrases should be repeated within close proximity of each other. Repeating the same words or phrases in a literary work of poetry or prose can bring clarity to an idea and/or make it memorable for the reader.

Multiple Choice

True or False: The following is an example of repletion: “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” (On the Waterfront)

• True

• False

Rhyme

Rhyme is a literary device, featured particularly in poetry, in which identical or similar concluding syllables in different words are repeated. Rhyme most often occurs at the ends of poetic lines. In addition, rhyme is principally a function of sound rather than spelling. 

Multiple Choice

True or False: vain, rein, lane rhyme.

• True

• False

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar objects or concepts are expressly compared with one another through the use of “like” or “as.” Simile is used as a literary device to assert similarity with the help of like or as, which are language constructs that establish equivalency. 

Multiple Select

Check ALL of the examples of similes.

• Old as the hills

• Mad as a hatter

• Sparkle like diamonds

• His room is a pigsty

• Laughter is the best medicine

Now let's see what you know...

Multiple Choice

Are you hungry? Let's find a cafe for ________, __________ and __________. (use alliteration)

• egg, chips and cola

• coffee, cakes and tea

• coffee, cakes and cola

• fish, chips and coffee

Multiple Choice

Chilly chicken children shivered with goosebumps

• alliteration
• assonance
• consonance
• Do chickens get goosebumps or chickenbumps?

Multiple Choice

Allusion or Not an allusion?

• Not an Allusion

• Allusion

Multiple Choice

Allusion or Not an Allusion?

• Not an allsion

• Allusion

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not an example of an allusion?

• his wife was his Achille's heel

• he lies so much, I'm surprised his nose doesn't grow like Pinnochio's

• she transformed her backyard to look like the Garden of Eden.

• we'll miss him so much because he was the best dog ever.

Multiple Choice

How is the allusion Adman and Eve commonly used?

• committing a sin

• being lazy

• being in love

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Which word rhymes with blue?

• buke

• home

• goop

• chew

Multiple Choice

Which word rhymes with all three?
butterfly
shy
multiply

• bite
• eye
• ugly
• many

Multiple Choice

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words is ____.

• assonance

• consonance

• alliteration

• rhyme

Multiple Choice

Comparing two unlike things using like or as is referred to as ___

• metaphor

• simile

• personification

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

The repetition of vowel sounds within a line or within words

• alliteration

• consonance

• assonance

• rhyme