Posted in Writing

Poetic Devices

Below is a table of various poetic devices and their meanings. Over the past year I’ve done articles on individual ones, but here are I am putting them all together in one post. These are just some of them.

Poetic DevicesMeaningExample
AssonanceRhyming of the same
vowel sounds
Leaves blew in the breeze
AlliterationThe occurrence of the same letter or
sound at the beginning of adjacent
or closely connected words.
Sweet singing doves
MetaphorThis is where an object in, or the subject of,
a poem is described as being the same
as another otherwise unrelated object.
The sand is a warm blanket
SimileA figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. It’s used to make a description more vivid.As fast as a cheetah.
PersonificationGiving an inanimate object human characteristics.The moon smiled back.
ImageryUsed in poetry, novels, or other writing that uses
vivid description that appeals to the readers’ senses. This creates an image or idea in their head.
The leaves sounded like clapping hands.
AllusionAn expression intended to
call something to mind
without mentioning it specifically. It’s a hint
towards something.
Chocolate is his kryptonite.
Superman is alluded to but not mentioned.
HyperboleExaggerated statements or not meant
to be taken literally
I am so hungry I could eat a whole side of beef.
AllegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted
to reveal a hidden meaning,
like a moral or political moral.
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an example of an allegory.
ConsonanceThe repetition of consonant sounds within
a line of text.
The boss had a loss.
Molly remained jolly.
RepetitionThe act of repeating something that has already been said. Used to create effect.Time after time.
Over and over.
EnjambmentThe continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next.Birds fly
above a

dew covered
grassy meadow.
MeterIn poetry, meter is the basic rhythmic structure of a verseiambic pentameter
trochaic foot
anapestic foot
(More on these in another post)