Poetry & its Devices

Poetry and its devices

Words and phrases have meanings beyond their dictionary definitions - connotative and figurative meanings.

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​Figurative

Language

• Connotative - a word or phrase is the feeling it tends to produce (positive, negative, or neutral).

  When describing a big city:

  Positive - lively

  Negative - crammed

  Neutral - busy

• Figurative - descriptive language that has deeper and abstract language to make writing more interesting and impactful.

Multiple Choice

What is the effect of comparison of "the cars were boys" on the chart?

• The cars turned into toy cars.

• Cars were so far away that they were the size of toys.

• The cars are not real.

Multiple Choice

"Muffled sounds floated up like balloons"

What is being compared?

• sounds and balloons

• car and balloons

• sounds and car

Multiple Choice

What is the effect of the comparison below?

"muffled sounds floated up like balloons"

• sounds would slowly disappear as balloons in the air

• sounds would get louder as they rose

Connotative

​helps to convey the feeling the author wants to share

Positive - bright, lovely, patient, open

Negative - crammed, wicked, scowl

Multiple Choice

Based on the words used in the poem, what connotation is being used?

• positive

• negative

Multiple Choice

What does the speaker's use of language tell you about his feelings for the city?

• He prefers city sights to the valleys and hills of the country.

• He admires the peace and beauty of the city scene.

• He hopes that the heart of the city will remain still and silent.