Elements of PoetryElements of Poetry

What is Poetry?What is Poetry?

Expression of emotion or ideas in Expression of emotion or ideas in an arrangement of words most an arrangement of words most often rhythmicallyoften rhythmically

Using imagery and senses to Using imagery and senses to express the way we feel about a express the way we feel about a subjectsubject

Doesn’t have to rhymeDoesn’t have to rhyme

ElementsElements

SimileSimile OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia MetaphorMetaphor IdiomIdiom HyperboleHyperbole ThemeTheme

AssonanceAssonance AlliterationAlliteration PersonificationPersonification ImageryImagery RhymeRhyme RhythmRhythm

SimileSimile

Compares one thing to Compares one thing to another using “like” or another using “like” or “as”“as”

Examples:Examples:

The milk tasted like The milk tasted like pickles.pickles.

It was as dry as a bone.It was as dry as a bone.

Life is like a box of Life is like a box of chocolates.chocolates.

Back to Elements

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

Using words that sound like their meaningUsing words that sound like their meaning

Examples:Examples:

buzz splat crash buzz splat crash whoosh whoosh

moo pow chug whewmoo pow chug whew

beep bam bang chirpbeep bam bang chirp

Buzz went the bees.Buzz went the bees.

Moo said the cow.Moo said the cow.

Back to Elements

MetaphorMetaphor A comparison between two things A comparison between two things

which does not use like or as.which does not use like or as. May sound false at first, but is a May sound false at first, but is a

clever way to make a point.clever way to make a point.

Examples:Examples:

My love is a rose.My love is a rose.

You are my sunshine.You are my sunshine.

America is a melting pot.America is a melting pot.

Back to Elements

IdiomIdiom

A language familiar to a group A language familiar to a group of people.of people.

The dialect of people or a The dialect of people or a region.region.

Examples:Examples:

That was easy as pie.That was easy as pie.

Boy, my brain was cookin’.Boy, my brain was cookin’.

Ya’ll comin’ to da party tonight?Ya’ll comin’ to da party tonight?

Back to Elements

HyperboleHyperbole

A large exaggeration, A large exaggeration, usually used with humor. usually used with humor.

Examples:Examples:

Her feet were so big she could Her feet were so big she could go water skiing without the go water skiing without the skies.skies.

You could have knocked me You could have knocked me over with a feather. over with a feather.

Back to Elements

AssonanceAssonance

A repetition of vowel A repetition of vowel sounds within syllables sounds within syllables with changing with changing consonants.consonants.

Examples:Examples:

Tilting at windmills.Tilting at windmills.

The rain in Spain falls The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plains.mainly in the plains.

Back to Elements

AlliterationAlliteration

Starting three or more Starting three or more words with the same sound.words with the same sound.

Examples:Examples:

A skunk sat on a stump.A skunk sat on a stump.

Wendy worries about her Wendy worries about her weird wart.weird wart.

She sells seashells by the She sells seashells by the seashore.seashore.

Back to Elements

PersonificationPersonification

Assigning the qualities of a Assigning the qualities of a person to something that isn’t person to something that isn’t human.human.

Examples:Examples:The leaves danced in the wind.The leaves danced in the wind.Opportunity knocked on the door.Opportunity knocked on the door.At precisely 6:30 a.m. my alarm At precisely 6:30 a.m. my alarm

clock sprang to life.clock sprang to life.

Back to Elements

ImageryImagery

The reader can picture the scene in his The reader can picture the scene in his mind.mind.

Usually appeals to the 5 senses.Usually appeals to the 5 senses.

Examples:Examples:

I wandered lonely as a cloud.I wandered lonely as a cloud.

A host of golden daffodils.A host of golden daffodils.

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Beside the lake, beneath the trees.Beside the lake, beneath the trees.

Back to Elements

RhymeRhyme

The repetition of sounds within different The repetition of sounds within different words, either end sound, middle or words, either end sound, middle or beginning. beginning.

Words having a sound similar to others.Words having a sound similar to others.

Examples:Examples:bat hat cat fatbat hat cat fatlake snake fake rakelake snake fake rakeremain refrain regainremain refrain regaintrim brim prim trim brim prim

Back to Elements

RhythmRhythm The flow of words within each meter or The flow of words within each meter or

stanza.stanza. Music, speech, or movements which are Music, speech, or movements which are

characterized by equal or regularly characterized by equal or regularly alternating beats.alternating beats.

Examples:Examples:

Chicka-chicka boom chicka boom chicka Chicka-chicka boom chicka boom chicka boomboom

Da-da-da-dummmm, da-da-da-dummmmDa-da-da-dummmm, da-da-da-dummmm

Back to Elements

ThemeTheme

The message, point of The message, point of view, and idea of the view, and idea of the poem. poem.

The topic or subject.The topic or subject.

Examples:Examples:NatureNatureSchoolSchoolLoveLove

Back to Elements

BibliographyBibliography Basic Elements of Poetry Basic Elements of Poetry

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/basic-http://www.buzzle.com/articles/basic-elements-of-poetry.htmlelements-of-poetry.html

Literary Terms Literary Terms http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/

Online dictionary Online dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Microsoft Clip ArtMicrosoft Clip Art http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/ Georgia Performance Standards – 5Georgia Performance Standards – 5thth grade grade