Introducing Poetic Devices and Techniques

introducing poetic devices

by Drew Jameson

​We're going to be reading a novel in verse

• ​The book tells one story about a girl who moves to a new state and struggles to fit in

• ​Each chapter tells part of the story, just like in any other novel

• ​But each chapter is also a poem (that's what "in verse" means)

• ​Each poem uses different kinds of poetic devices

​Figurative Language

• ​The 1st kind of poetic device we'll talk about is figurative language

• Writers use many different types of figurative language to enhance their writing

​Literal Language

• ​The opposite of figurative language

• ​It means exactly what it says

• ​"I ran as fast as my friend."

• ​"The tree is an oak."

​Figurative Language

• ​or "figure of speech"

• ​We understand that the writer is making a point by a comparison or exaggeration

• ​"I was as fast as a cheetah."

• ​"Mr. J was an oak tree, steadfast and sure."

Open Ended

Why do you think writers and poets might use figurative language in their writing?

​Simile

• ​The most common form of figurative language is a simile

• ​It is a comparison between two unlike things, using the words "like" or "as"

​Important!

• ​Not every sentence that uses "like" or "as" is a simile...

• ​"I'm like my brother because we're both bald" is just literal language

• ​"My imagination is like a wizard, because it can create impossible things" is a simile

​Metaphor

• ​a comparison between two unlike things, but not using "like" or "as"

• ​Often use the word "is" (the verb "to be")

• ​Be careful not to mix it up with literal language

Multiple Choice

Which is a simile?

• "Her laughter was like a ringing bell"

• "She likes pizza"

• "Her laughter is a ringing bell"

• "She has a nice laugh"

Multiple Choice

Which is a simile?

• "She was as tall as her friend"

• "She was as wise as an owl"

• "She is a wise old owl"

• "She likes owls"

Multiple Choice

Which is a metaphor?

• "She was like a swift river"

• "She was ten years old"

• "Her heart was a swift river, running free"

• "She likes to swim"

Multiple Select

Which two are examples of figurative language?

• "She likes singing"

• "She was as tall as a giraffe"

• "She sang like a songbird"

• "She is as tall as Sarah"

​Personfication

• ​When a writer describes something that is not human, with human qualities

• ​Often used to describe nature, or non-living things, things that don't have emotions

• ​If only a person could do that, then it's personification

Multiple Choice

Which is personification?

• "She was as grand as a mountain

• "The mountain was 1000 feet high"

• "The mountain stared down at the valley below"

• "The man was a mountain of muscle"

Now I'll give you an example, and you have to say which kind of language it is​

Remember the difference between literal and figurative language!​

Multiple Choice

"She was like the wind, flying free"

• Metaphor

• Literal language

• Personification

• Simile

Multiple Choice

"Her mind was a library, full of stories."

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Literal Language

• Simile

Multiple Choice

"The windows of the empty house stared back at me"

• Metaphor

• Literal Language

• Personification

• Simile

Multiple Choice

"Her eyes were brown."

• Metaphor

• Literal Language

• Personification

• Simile

Multiple Choice

This one is tricky!

"Her heart was broken."

• Metaphor

• Literal language

• Personification

• Simile