Poetic Sound Devices

Poetic Sound Devices

Alliteration

DEFINITION: The repetition of the same beginning consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

EXAMPLE: The wind whipped through the willows.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains alliteration?

• The sky was full of bright stars.

• Marcus made many messy mistakes.

• The river ran swiftly.

• She walked to the store.

Anaphora

DEFINITION: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of sentences of lines.

EXAMPLE: We rise at dawn. We rise for justice. We rise together.

Multiple Choice

Which example uses anaphora?

• He laughed because he was happy.

• Stars shine brightly in the sky.

• Never give up. Never back down. Never lose hope.

• The wind whispered softly.

Chiasmus

DEFINITION: A reversal of grammatical structure in successive clauses.

EXAMPLE: She has all my love; my heart belongs to her.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of chiasmus?

• When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

• You can’t win if you don’t try.

• Her smile lit up the room.

• The sun rises in the east.

Enjambment

DEFINITION: When one line of poetry continues to the next without punctuation.

EXAMPLE:
The river flows
beyond the quiet meadow.

Open Ended

How can you identify an enjambment?

Enjambment

DEFINITION: When one line of poetry continues to the next without punctuation.

EXAMPLE:
The river flows
beyond the quiet meadow.