The repetition of the vowel sounds followed by different
consonants in two or more stressed syllables.
EXAMPLE: As h ighas a k i te in a br igh t sky
7. HYPERBOLE
A bold, deliberate overstatement not intended to be taken
seriously. The purpose is to emphasize the truth of the
statement.
EXAMPLES: He weighs a ton, I could eat a horse
8. IMAGERY
Usually these words or phrases create a picture in the readers
mind. Some imagery appeals to the other four senses (hearing,
touch, taste, smell).
EXAMPLES:
Sight smoke mysteriously puffed our from his ears
Sound he could hear a faint but distant thump
Touch the burlap wall covering scraped his skin
Taste a salty tear ran down his cheek
Smell the scent of cinnamon floated into his nostrils
9. IRONY
The general name given to the literary techniques that involve
differences between appearance and reality, expectations and
result, or meaning and intention.
EXAMPLE:
It was ironic that the police station was robbed.
It was ironic that the Olympic swimmer drowned in the
bathtub.
It was ironic that the soldier survived the war and then was
shot on his own front porch after returning home safely.
10. METAPHOR
A figure of speech in which one thing is spoken as though it
were something else, a direct comparison of two unlike things.
EXAMPLE: It is raining cats and dogs
11. PERSONIFICATION
Figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human
characteristics
EXAMPLE: The wind spoke her name
12. ONOMATOPOEIA
The use of words that imitate sounds.
Buzz, Thud, Hiss, Woof, Quack
13. OXYMORON
The junction of words which, at first view, seem to be
contradictory, but surprisingly this contradictions expresses a
truth or dramatic effect.
EXAMPLES: Pretty ugly, Icy hot
14. REPETITION
The use, more than once, of any element of language a sound,a
word, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence.
EXAMPLE: By Edgar Allan Poe
By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of thebells
Of thebells
Of thebells, bells, bells, bells
15. RHYME
Word endings that sounds alike
Internal Rhyme rhyme within a line
EXAMPLES: T im e, Sl ime , M ime
Internal Rhyme Scornful lysca lysnake which held his very
fate
16. SIMILE
A comparison using like or as.
EXAMPLES: As brave as a lion, As dumb as an ox
17. MORE INFORMTAION
If youd like to learn more about poetry terms, please refer to
Mrs. Tenneys Moodle page. The website is:
