Poetic Devices and Terms

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Alliteration

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The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

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Assonance

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The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely positioned words. Example: The early bird catches the worm (repetition of the ‘e’ sound).

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Consonance

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Occurs when two words have the same consonant sound following different vowel sounds. Example: 'same' and 'home' have the same 'm' sound, but different vowel sounds.

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Onomatopoeia

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Words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. Examples: buzz, hiss, roar, splash.

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Rhyme

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The repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs. Example: The cat in the hat (rhyme between 'cat' and 'hat').

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Rhythm

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The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Example: Iambic pentameter in Shakespeare's sonnets.

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Meter

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The pattern of beats in a line of poetry, combining the number of beats and arrangement of stresses. Example: Shakespeare's Sonnet 18.

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Imagery

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The use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader. Example: The golden sun set behind the purple mountains.

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Metaphor

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A comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.' Example: 'Life is a rollercoaster.'

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Simile

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A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.' Example: 'He runs as fast as a cheetah.'