Poetry Toolbox Or Figurative Language Tricks and Techniques
Poetry Toolbox: Or “Figurative Language Tricks and Techniques”
Figurative language Using metaphors, similes, imagery, idioms, hyperbole and personification to describe things Flowery Language “It’s raining cats and dogs!” “The sky opened up and cried when it found out you left me. ”
Literal Language Precise, realistic language “It is raining out. “ “I was sad when you left. ”
End Rhyme Two lines that end in the same sound (does not need to be spelled the same!) Hickory Dock. The mouse ran up the clock.
Internal rhyme Think: where are your internal organs? This rhyme is inside the middle of one line of poetry Hickory Dock, Faded jazz floats out of a cafe
Rhyme Scheme Plan for rhyme- might be couplets (aabbcc) Or another plan like a limerick: There was a young lady of Niger A Who smiled as she rode on the back of a tiger They returned from a ride B With the lady inside B And a smile on the face of the tiger A A (anonymous)
Free verse “No rules just right” No rhymes at the end, sounds and looks more like speech You can’t order a poem like you order a taco Walk up to the counter and say “I’ll take two” and get them handed back to you on a shiny plate. (Naomi Shihab Nye)
Imagery “…The road was a ribbon of moonlight…” (Alfred Noyes) Or Vivid picture in one’s mind from powerful words “So much depends upon The red wheelbarrow Glazed with rainwater Beside The white chickens” (william carlos williams)
Personification Giving non-human objects human-like personality traits or actions “…and then my heart with pleasure fills And dances with the daffodils” Also: “Rikki –Tikki-Tavi” (Rudyard Kipling) The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (William Wordsworth)
Simile and Metaphor Simi. Le Metaphor Comparing two things using LIKE or AS Comparing two things WITHOUT using like or as” “moon was a ghostly galleon” (A. Noyes) “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine” “hair like moldy hay” (A. Noyes)
Alliteration When the EXACT sound is repeated in the beginning of two words (spelling does not matter) “dazzling diamonds” Boyd Baker
Consonance When a consonant is repeated in a line of words She sells seashells down by the seashore The sailor sings of ropes and things
Assonance When vowel sounds are repeated (not always about the letter because in English we pronounce vowels many different ways!) “daylight faded gracefully away” Lucy Liu
Repetition When whole words or phrases are repeated “…Tap, tapping on my chamber door” (Edgar Allen Poe) One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish (Dr. Seuss)
Onomatopoeia Words that mimic what they represent Tap, knock, boom, crash, whisper, zip, buzz, hum… (Story time!)
Rhythm (The only word in the English language without a vowel…!) The measured beat of poetry Woman much missed, how you call to me, call to me or There once was a teacher named Baker (3) Who said “Oh no, I am not such a faker!” (3) Her kids refused to put names (2) On their papers- what shame! (2) And now they are summer school takers! (3)
The End Now you will be able to construct poems of great magnificence and charm. Take care of your toolbox!
- Slides: 17