Poetry Basics

Poetry Basics

the most compact form of literature

Basic Structure

• made up of lines (not sentences)

• grouped into stanzas (not paragraphs)

• often follows a set pattern of rhyme (rhyme scheme)

• can follow set rhythmical pattern (meter)

• frequently uses figurative language to convey deeper meaning

• allowed to break spelling, capitalization, and all other conventional rules

Sound Devices

• Assonance

• Consonance

• Alliteration

• Onomatopoeia

• Rhyme

• Meter

• Repetition

Assonance

repetition of vowel sounds within a group of words

Multiple Choice

Clap your hands, and stamp your feet.

• assonance

• NOT assonance

Clap your hands and stamp your feet.

Multiple Choice

The girls and boys grabbed their toys.

• assonance

• NOT assonance

The girls and boys grabbed their toys.

Multiple Choice

The boys tumbled down the hill.

• assonance

• NOT assonance

Multiple Choice

The three trees waved gently in the breeze.

• assonance

• NOT assonance

The three trees waved gently in the breeze.

Consonance

repetition of consonant sounds within a group of words

Multiple Choice

The bond transcends beyond.

• consonance

• NOT consonance

The bond transcends beyond.

Multiple Choice

The chaotic tick-tocking of the clock echoed in my head.

• consonance

• NOT consonance

The chaotic tick-tocking of clock echoed in my head.

with consonance, the sound can be found anywhere in the words

Alliteration

repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

Multiple Choice

Carmen carefully caught Carl.

• alliteration

• NOT alliteration

Multiple Choice

Fair is foul, and foul is fair.

• alliteration

• NOT alliteration

Multiple Choice

All's fair in love and war.

• alliteration

• NOT alliteration

Multiple Choice

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. . .

• alliteration

• NOT alliteration

Onomatopoeia

words that imitate sounds

Multiple Choice

Find the onomatopoeia:

The wind whistled through the empty halls.

• wind

• whistled

• empty

• halls

Multiple Choice

Find the onomatopoeia:

I trembled when I heard the mournful howl of the wolf.

• trembled

• mournful

• howl

• wolf

Multiple Choice

Find the onomatopoeia:

The buzzing bees droned endlessly on that dreamy summer day.

• buzzing

• bees

• droned

• endlessly

Figurative Language

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

• Allusion

Simile

a comparison of 2 or more unlike things that uses like or as

Metaphor

a comparison of 2 or more unlike things WITHOUT using like or as

Multiple Choice

The sun was a gleaming pearl in a turquoise sky.

• simile

• metaphor

Multiple Choice

The sun was a like a gleaming pearl in a turquoise sky.

• simile

• metaphor

Multiple Choice

My sister's memory is like a camera that takes pictures of everything she sees.

• simile

• metaphor

Multiple Choice

My sister's memory is a camera that takes pictures of everything she sees.

• simile

• metaphor

Hyperbole

an EXTREME exaggeration (metaphors and similes often include an element of exaggeration as well)

Personification

giving human qualities to animals or objects

Allusion

references historical events, famous people, well-known landmarks, or works of literature and art

Multiple Choice

Love is a dog from hell.

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• allusion

Multiple Choice

If it doesn't stop raining, I'm going to build an ark.

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• allusion

Multiple Choice

We waited for centuries in the line get on the ride.

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• personification

Multiple Choice

My heart is like a singing bird whose nest is in a water'd shoot.

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• allusion

Multiple Choice

The earth has swallowed all my hopes.

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• allusion