Poetic Devices

Front

alliteration

Back

3 or more words close together that start with the same sound. Ex: “Finally flying freely.”

Front

punctuation

Back

Used in poetry as a sound device, for the purpose of pauses and emphasis (commas, dashes, and end punctuation)

Front

internal rhyme

Back

Words that rhyme within the same line. Ex: “But though we all may fall, courage returns us to our feet.”

Front

rhythm

Back

The “beat” of the poem, including pace and pauses.

Front

stanza breaks

Back

Space between stanzas, which usually indicates some kind of a change.

Front

repetition

Back

Repeated words or phrases for the purpose of emphasis. Ex: “Still I rise. Still I rise.”

Front

rhyme scheme

Back

Pattern of rhyming words at the end of each line.

Front

onomatopoeia

Back

Words that sound like what they describe. Ex: “drip,” “vroom,” “tick-tock.”

Front

speaker

Back

Narrates the poem.

Front

poet

Back

Writes the poem.