Identifying Poetic Devices

And I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears

So done with wishing you were still here

Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow

So why can't I turn off the radio?

"So Sick" by Ne-Yo

• Alliteration

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

Answer explanation

The repeated "s" sound in "sick...songs...so" makes it alliteration.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

"Plan ahead: it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark," is an example of ___

• hyperbole

• metaphor

• simile

• allusion

Answer explanation

The story of Noah and the ark is from the Bible which makes it an allusion.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

Identify the figurative language used in the following line:

The dress was a sparkling red as it reflected light from every angle. Penelope thought the dress must be the color of Dorothy's slippers.

• theme

• metaphor

• irony

• allusion

Answer explanation

It's alluding to Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

When your parents hear about your new plan to make money, it's going to sink like Titanic.

• idiom

• allusion

• metaphor

• personification

Answer explanation

The Titanic is someting from the past - a ship that was thought to be unsinkable but tragically sank.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

Identify the sound device used in the following line:

I try to find my guy when I glide and stride all night.

• repetition

• assonance

• onomatopoeia

• alliteration

Answer explanation

The "i" sound is repeated in "try ... guy ... glide ... stride"

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

Identify the sound device in the following line:

"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain"

• assonance

• alliteration

• personification

• onomatopoeia

Answer explanation

The "ai" sound is repeated in "rain ... Spain ... mainly ... plain"

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

They put me in the oven to bake.

Me, a deprived and miserable cake.

Feeling the heat, I started to bubble.

Watching the others, I knew I was in trouble.

"the Life of a Cupcake" by Shelby Greer

• hyperbole

• rhyme

• metaphor

• simile

Answer explanation

"bake" and "cake" sound the same = rhyme

"bubble" and "trouble" sound the same = rhyme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Which of these is an example of hyperbole?

• You'll find the high flyers who fly to great heights"

• "You've got brains in your head, you've got feet in your shoes"

• You'll find the bright places where boom bands are playing"

• "Kid, you'll move mountains"

Answer explanation

You cannot physically move a mountain = extreme exaggeration.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

Identify the type of poetic device below:

"I have died everyday, waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more"

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• symbol

• personification

Answer explanation

Extreme exaggeration: she hasn't died everyday and cannot really wait for a thousand years.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

Identify the poetic device below:

"Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words

froze solid before they could be heard.

People had to wait until sunup to find out what folds

were talking about the night before"

• idiom

• personification

• hyperbole

• symbol

Answer explanation

Extreme exaggeration: words cannot really freeze because of the cold.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A