Poetry Toolbox:

Poetry Toolbox:Or Figurative Language Tricks and Techniques

Figurative languageUsing metaphors, similes, imagery, idioms, hyperbole and personification to describe things

Flowery Language

Its raining cats and dogs! The sky opened up and cried when it found out you left me.

Literal LanguagePrecise, realistic language

It is raining out. I was sad when you left.

End RhymeTwo lines that end in the same sound (does not need to be spelled the same!)

Hickory Dickory Dock-The mouse ran up the clock.

Internal rhymeThink: where are your internal organs?

This rhyme is inside the middle of one line of poetry

Hickory Dickory Dock,

Faded jaded jazz floats out of a cafeRhyme SchemePlan for rhyme- might be couplets (aabbcc)Or another plan like a limerick:

There was a young lady of Niger AWho smiled as she rode on the back of a tiger AThey returned from a ride BWith the lady inside BAnd a smile on the face of the tiger A

(anonymous)

Free verseNo rules just rightNo rhymes at the end, sounds and looks more like speech

You cant order a poemlike you order a tacoWalk up to the counter and say Ill take twoand get them handed back to you on a shiny plate. (Naomi Shihab Nye)

ImageryVivid picture in ones mind from powerful wordsThe road was a ribbon of moonlight (Alfred Noyes)Or

So much depends uponThe red wheelbarrowGlazed with rainwaterBesideThe white chickens(william carlos williams)

PersonificationGiving non-human objects human-like personality traits or actions

and then my heart with pleasure fillsAnd dances with the daffodils (William Wordsworth)Also:Rikki Tikki-Tavi (Rudyard Kipling)

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Simile and MetaphorSimiLeComparing two things using LIKE or AS

hair like moldy hay(A. Noyes)

MetaphorComparing two things WITHOUT using like or as

moon was a ghostly galleon (A. Noyes)

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

AlliterationWhen the EXACT sound is repeated in the beginning of two words(spelling does not matter)

dazzling diamonds

Prickly Pear

ConsonanceWhen a consonant is repeated in a line of words

She sells seashells down by the seashore

The sailor sings of ropes and things

AssonanceWhen vowel sounds are repeated (not always about the letter because in English we pronounce vowels many different ways!)

daylight faded gracefully away

Lucy Liu

RepetitionWhen whole words or phrases are repeated

Tap, tap, tapping on my chamber door(Edgar Allen Poe)One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish(Dr. Seuss)

OnomatopoeiaWords that mimic what they represent

Tap, knock, boom, crash, whisper, zip, buzz, hum

(Story time!)

Rhythm(The only word in the English language without a vowel!)The measured beat of poetryWoman much missed, how you call to me, call to meorThere once was a student named Andy (3)Who said Oh no, I would never eat candy! (3)He refused to eat sweets (2)On his phone he would tweet (2)I feel fine and my teeth are just dandy! (3)

The EndNow you will be able to construct poems of great magnificence and charm.

Take care of your toolbox!