Poetry Devices

An object, person, or idea that represents something beyond itself.

The use of picture-painting words to help you experience author's ideas with all your senses.

The use of a word, sound, or phrase more than once

A central message or insight about life that sits at the center of each poem

A nonhuman subject is given human characteristics

Like or as used to make comparison between two basically unlike ideas.

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Alliteration

• Irony

"She sells sea shells by the sea shore"

• Personification

• Connotation

• Denotation

• Alliteration

”’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door- Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-

• Repetition

• Alliteration

• Illusion

• Theme

"Dreams are balloons floating in the sky"

• Alliteration

• Illusion

• Metaphor

• Tone