Poetic Devices Glossary

Poetic Device Definition Example/s Think of your own example Find example/s from
other poetry
Rhyme The occurrence of the same or similar Baa baa black sheep, have She hopped on the
sounds at the end of two or more words you any wool? rollercoaster ride.
(usually at the end of a poetic line). Yes sir, yes sir, three bags She screamed out “help me”
full! and then she cried!
Metre The pattern of beats or stresses in a “And I do love thee: She wailed in pain and cried in
poem. Syllables may be stressed therefore, go with me” vain.
(strong) or unstressed (weak). (Shakespeare)

Imagery The use of vivid or figurative language
which incorporates the five senses to
make the reader imagine a mental
picture.
Metaphor A comparison between two (usually)
quite different things by saying one
thing is another.
The crunchy Autumn leaves
wafted from the sky in a soft
flurry of hazy oranges and
yellows.
He was a lion in battle.
He dwells in a sea of
troubles.
The orange sunset gleamed
across the tranquil, blue sky.
The car started to bark and
cough as the engine was not
running up.

Simile Comparing two things, using ‘like’ or He was like a lion in battle. Her dress was as colourful as
‘as’. His heart was as cold as ice. a rainbow.
Symbol A thing which represents or is a sign for
something else.
Assonance The repetition of the same or similar Moses loathed his roses. The light was a sight of fright!
vowel sounds within words.
Alliteration The repetition of consonant sounds She sells seashells by the Lucy licked her lollipop while
used at the beginning of words. seashore. lying one her lovely lion.
Peter Piper picked a peck of
pickled peppers.

Onomatopoeia The use of words which imitate the Buzz. Pop!

sound they are describing. Hiss. Kaboom!
Zing. Woof!
Repetition When words, phrases, lines or stanzas He eats, we eat, they eat. They cry, they scream, they
are repeated. wail, they
Anaphora Repeating a word or phrase at the So long as men can breathe We remember those who
beginning of a line or clause. or eyes can see, fought,
So long lives this and this We remember those who
gives life to thee. carried their lives.
(Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)
Personification Giving human qualities to a non-human The sky is crying. The car is coughing.
thing or an abstract concept. Dead leaves danced in the
wind.
Blind justice.
Hate will kill you in the end.
Hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or Tons of money, waiting for An eternity since I waited for
for rhetorical effect. ages, a flood of tears… the appointment.

Juxtaposition The placement of two concepts, words, It was the best of times, it I have a good memory, I have
or images close together to create a was the worst of times. a bad memory.
comparison or contrast. (Charles Dickens, A Tale of
Two Cities).