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Worksheets

Poetic Devices

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 5hrs 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Max is a pig when he eats.
This is an example of a/an: 
a)
alliteration
b)
simile
c)
metaphor
2.
The gentle giant jumped in jubilation. 
This is an example of a/an: 
a)
simile
b)
metaphor
c)
alliteration
3.
Your brain is a computer. 
This is an example of a/an: 
a)
metaphor
b)
simile
c)
alliteration
4.
The pool glittered like a mirror. 
This is an example of a/an: 
a)
metaphor
b)
alliteration 
c)
simile
5.

She happily helped the homeless.

This is an example of a/an:

a)

metaphor

b)

alliteration

c)

simile

6.
Don ate his salad like a vacuum cleaner. 
This is an example of a/an: 
a)
alliteration
b)
metaphor 
c)
simile
7.
The smoke was cotton balls billowing from the chimney. 
This is an example of a/an: 
a)
alliteration
b)
metaphor
c)
simile
8.

He found a shell that shimmered in the shade.

This is an example of a/an:

a)

alliteration

b)

metaphor

c)

simile

9.

When two or more words have the same ending sound, it is called

a)

scheme

b)

rhyme

c)

alliteration

d)

repetition

10.

Crash, ZOINK, Moo, BOOM, and POP are examples of

a)

alliteration

b)

personification

c)

onomatopoeia

d)

poetry

11.

Her eyes are as sparkly as a diamond is a

a)

simile

b)

metaphor

c)

alliteration

d)

onomatopoeia

12.

words that are used within a poem repeatedly to express a certain point

a)

rhyme

b)

repetition

c)

stanza

d)

alliteration

13.

comparing two things WITHOUT using LIKE or AS is called

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

alliteration

d)

stanza

14.

On the beautiful summer night, the trees danced in the breeze is an example of ...

a)

alliteration

b)

personification

c)

rhyme

d)

stanza

15.

comparing two unlike things using like or as

a)

simile

b)

metaphor

c)

symbolism

d)

imagery

16.

Descriptive writing that appeals to any of our five senses

a)

repetition

b)

simile

c)

metaphor

d)

imagery

17.
All poems must rhyme.
a)
True
b)
False
18.

Rhythm is the repeating patterns of sounds

a)

False

b)

True

19.

Words with a similar ending sound are called...

a)

Equal

b)

Rhythm

c)

Repeated

d)

Rhyme

20.

A piece of writing that usually has figurative language and is written in separate lines which often have a repeated rhythm and sometimes rhyme.

a)

poem

b)

stanza

c)

line

d)

personification

21.

What are the red letters an example of?

The people along the sand (A)

All turn and look one way. (B)

They turn their back on the land. (A)

They look at the sea all day. (B)

As long as it takes to pass (C)

A ship keeps raising its hull; (C)

The wetter ground like glass (D)

Reflects a standing gull. (D)

a)

Rhythm

b)

Rhyme

c)

Rhyme scheme

d)

Alliteration

22.
Words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions to which they refer.
a)
rhyme
b)
onomatopoeia
c)
metaphor
d)
simile
23.
The recurring use of a sound, a word, a phrase, or a line.
a)
repetition
b)
onomatopoeia
c)
alliteration
d)
simile
24.
To give human qualities to animals or nonhuman objects.
a)
metaphor
b)
personification
c)
simile
d)
onomatopoeia
25.
The repetition of beginning sounds.
a)
repetition
b)
alliteration
c)
rhyme
d)
meter
26.
My love for you is a rose is an example of...
a)
simile
b)
metaphor
c)
alliteration
d)
rhyme
27.
Ring! Ring! is an example of...
a)
rhyme
b)
alliteration
c)
onomatopoeia
d)
personification
28.
My grandmother was as beautiful as a Texas sunrise is an example of...
a)
metaphor
b)
rhyme
c)
simile
d)
onomatopoeia
29.

What is a hyperbole?

a)

A comparison using "like" or "as".

b)

A statement that gives non-human objects human characteristics.

c)

An exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally.

d)

an expressing whose meaning is different from the literal meaning.

30.

What does the hyperbole, "I have a million things to do today" mean?

a)

There are a million things to do today.

b)

There is nothing to do today.

c)

There is a lot to do tomorrow.

d)

There is a lot to do today.

31.

Select the option that makes the following sentence a hyperbole:

The chicken noodle soup was really hot with pepper.

a)

The chicken noodle soup was so hot with pepper that my mouth was on fire.

b)

The chicken noodle soup was so hot with pepper, my eyes watered.

c)

The chicken noodle soup was so hot with pepper, but tasted really good.

d)

The chicken noodle soup was so hot with pepper, I could not eat it.

32.

The statement, "I am so hungry I can eat a slice of pie" is a hyperbole. True or False?

a)

True

b)

False

33.

I would swim a thousand seas to get to my son.

a)

Hypebole

b)

Not a hyperbole

34.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

a)

repetition

b)

rhyme

c)

alliteration

35.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. 

a)

rhyme

b)
simile
c)
alliteration
36.

What is an oxymoron?

a)

A form of "word play" in which the word has double meaning.

b)

A saying with a little bit of wisdom is given

c)

When two words are put together that contradict one another.

37.
Which of the following is not an oxymoron?
a)
bittersweet
b)
civil war
c)

still moving

d)
pretty ugly
38.
There was such a joyful sadness in her beautiful face. What is the oxymoron?
a)
Beautiful Face
b)
Such a
c)
Joyful Sadness
d)
Beautiful 
39.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses self contradictory terms back to back.
a)
True
b)
False
40.
Which of the following is NOT oxymoron?
a)
mild hot sauce
b)
comfortable misery 
c)
a wise fool 
d)
 a smart decision 
41.

Which of these best defines imagery in poetry?

a)

pictures that accompany poetry

b)

comparison of one thing to another

c)

language that appeals to the senses

d)

imagination in poetry

42.

Which of these is an example of the use of imagery?

a)

The icy snow crunched underfoot.

b)

Jack filled his plate with food.

c)

Two chimneys rose from the house.

d)

His mind was busily at work.

43.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;

He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;

And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,

And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,

But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.


from "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest L. Thayer

43.

Which of these best describes the use of humor in the excerpt from "Casey at the Bat"?

a)

pairing images that do not usually go together

b)

using personification and metaphor for effect

c)

describing a situation from an unusual perspective

d)

using words that appeal to the senses of sight and sound

44.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;

He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;

And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,

And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,

But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.


from "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest L. Thayer

44.

Which technique best contributes to the poem's humorous effect?

a)

using irony so that readers are surprised to learn what happens at the end

b)

combining two points of view in an unusual way

c)

using images that appeal to the senses of touch and tase

d)

describing a common situation from an unusual perspective

45.

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,

Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,

Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air

Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,

And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.

The sled and traveller stopped, the courier's feet

Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit

Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed

In a tumultuous privacy of storm.


from "The Snowstorm" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

45.

Which is the best paraphrase of lines 1-2 from Emerson's poem?

a)

The sky is full of wonder.

b)

Great horns are blowing.

c)

A snowstorm has come.

d)

Wind blows over a field.

46.

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,

Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,

Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air

Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,

And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.

The sled and traveller stopped, the courier's feet

Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit

Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed

In a tumultuous privacy of storm.


from "The Snowstorm" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

46.

Which best expresses the meaning of lines 3-5 in Emerson's poem?

a)

The snow falls softly on the land.

b)

The snow blots out everything.

c)

Snow falls but does not stick.

d)

The weather is cold and gloomy.

47.

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,

Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,

Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air

Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,

And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.

The sled and traveller stopped, the courier's feet

Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit

Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed

In a tumultuous privacy of storm.


from "The Snowstorm" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

47.

Which best restates lines 6-9 of Emerson's poem?

a)

Neighbors are isolated from one another by the storm.

b)

Travelers stop to admire the beauty of the woods.

c)

Families enjoy sitting around the fire together.

d)

People are staying indoors during the storm.

48.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date


-from "Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare

48.

Which of these best describes the overall impression of Shakespeare's sonnet?

a)

The speaker loves summer more than autumn.

b)

The speaker is expressing tender love for someone.

c)

The speaker appreciates the different moods of summer.

d)

The speaker feels that summer days pass too quickly.

49.

The tide rises, the tide falls,

The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;

Along the sea-sands damp and brown

The traveller hastens toward the town,

      And the tide rises, the tide falls.


-from "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

49.

Which of these best expresses the setting of Longfellow's poem?

a)

a boat in the ocean

b)

a town near the sea

c)

a seashore near a town

d)

a lonely road near town

50.

The tide rises, the tide falls,

The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;

Along the sea-sands damp and brown

The traveller hastens toward the town,

      And the tide rises, the tide falls.


-from "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

50.

Which imagery from Longfellow's poem appeals to the senses of touch and sight?

a)

the tide rises, the tide falls

b)

the twilight darkens

c)

the traveller hastens

d)

the sea-sands damp and brown