Elements of PoetryElements of Poetry

RhymeRhyme

The basic definition of rhyme is two words that sound alike. The vowel sound of two words is the same, but the initial consonant sound is different.

The basic definition of rhyme is two words that sound alike. The vowel sound of two words is the same, but the initial consonant sound is different.

Practice

AssonanceAssonance

If alliteration occurs at the beginning of a word and rhyme at the end, assonance takes the middle territory.

Assonance occurs when the vowel sound within a word matches the same sound in a nearby word, but the surrounding consonant sounds are different.

If alliteration occurs at the beginning of a word and rhyme at the end, assonance takes the middle territory.

Assonance occurs when the vowel sound within a word matches the same sound in a nearby word, but the surrounding consonant sounds are different.

Practice

AlliterationAlliteration

Alliteration occurs when the initial sounds of a word, beginning either with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in close succession.

Alliteration occurs when the initial sounds of a word, beginning either with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in close succession.

Practice

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

Words that sound like their meaning.

Words that sound like their meaning.

RepetitionRepetition

The repetition of the same word throughout the poem to emphasize significance.

The repetition of the same word throughout the poem to emphasize significance.

StyleStyle

The way the poem is written. Includes length of meters, number of

stanzas along with rhyme techniques and rhythm.

The way the poem is written. Includes length of meters, number of

stanzas along with rhyme techniques and rhythm.

MeterMeter

Meter is the rhythm established by a poem, and it is usually dependent not only on the number of syllables in a line but also on the way those syllables are accented.

Meter is the rhythm established by a poem, and it is usually dependent not only on the number of syllables in a line but also on the way those syllables are accented.

Practice

ToneTone

The tone of a poem is roughly equivalent to the mood it creates in the reader.

The tone of a poem is roughly equivalent to the mood it creates in the reader.

practice

MetaphorMetaphor

Closely related to similes, metaphors immediately identify one object or idea with another, in one or more aspects.

The meaning of a poem frequently depends on the success of a metaphor.

Closely related to similes, metaphors immediately identify one object or idea with another, in one or more aspects.

The meaning of a poem frequently depends on the success of a metaphor.

practice

SimileSimile

The word ‘like’ signifies a direct comparison between two things that are alike in a certain way.

Usually one of the elements of a simile is concrete and the other abstract.

The word ‘like’ signifies a direct comparison between two things that are alike in a certain way.

Usually one of the elements of a simile is concrete and the other abstract.

practice

IronyIrony

As a figure of speech, irony refers to a difference between the way something appears and what is actually true.

As a figure of speech, irony refers to a difference between the way something appears and what is actually true.

practice

SymbolSymbol

A symbol works two ways: It is something itself, and it also suggests something deeper.

A symbol works two ways: It is something itself, and it also suggests something deeper.

practice

AllegoryAllegory

An allegory is a whole world of symbols. Within a narrative form, which can be either in prose or verse, an allegory tells a story that can be read symbolically.

An allegory is a whole world of symbols. Within a narrative form, which can be either in prose or verse, an allegory tells a story that can be read symbolically.

practice

Denotation & ConnotationDenotation & Connotation

Denotation is when you mean what you say, literally.

Connotation is created when you mean something else, something that might be initially hidden. The connotative meaning of a word is based on implication, or shared emotional association with a word.

Denotation is when you mean what you say, literally.

Connotation is created when you mean something else, something that might be initially hidden. The connotative meaning of a word is based on implication, or shared emotional association with a word.

practice

DictionDiction

The writer's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression

The writer's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression

practice

SyntaxSyntax

The study of the rules that govern the structure of sentences, and which determine their relative grammaticality

The order of words in a sentence

The study of the rules that govern the structure of sentences, and which determine their relative grammaticality

The order of words in a sentence

practice

ImageryImagery

Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery.

Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery.

practice

SourcesSources

Virtural Lit Interactive Poetry tutorial http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/virtualit/poetry/elements.html

Poem of Quotes http://www.poemofquotes.com/articles/elements-of-poetry.php

http://mrbraiman.home.att.net/lit.htm

Virtural Lit Interactive Poetry tutorial http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/virtualit/poetry/elements.html

Poem of Quotes http://www.poemofquotes.com/articles/elements-of-poetry.php

http://mrbraiman.home.att.net/lit.htm

Practice: RhymePractice: RhymeHear the sledges with the bells— Silver bells!What a world of merriment their melody foretells!How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night!While the stars that oversprinkleAll the heavens, seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme,To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells—From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells

Hear the sledges with the bells— Silver bells!What a world of merriment their melody foretells!How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night!While the stars that oversprinkleAll the heavens, seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme,To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells—From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells

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Practice: AssonancePractice: Assonance

Dazed Dice, Cramped, Grave, Fizzle

Fruit Guitar, Loop, Function, Frump

Purple Dazzle, Pretty, Pale, Hurt

Reek Rickety, Quick, Beat, Screw

Ready Set, Water, Seat, Raise

Dazed Dice, Cramped, Grave, Fizzle

Fruit Guitar, Loop, Function, Frump

Purple Dazzle, Pretty, Pale, Hurt

Reek Rickety, Quick, Beat, Screw

Ready Set, Water, Seat, Raise back

Practice: AlliterationPractice: Alliteration

Sometimes snakes slithered past. A majestic mountain was visible in the

distance. He hopped about happily. The baker busily kneaded the bread. They stayed up while the moon mounted in

the sky.

Sometimes snakes slithered past. A majestic mountain was visible in the

distance. He hopped about happily. The baker busily kneaded the bread. They stayed up while the moon mounted in

the sky.

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Practice: MeterPractice: Meter

I'm hap pi est when most a wayI can bear my soul from its home of clayOn a win dy night when the moon is brightAnd the eye can wan der through worlds of light—

When I am not and none be side—Nor earth nor sea nor cloud less sky—But on ly spi rit wan dering wideThrough in fin ite im mens it y.

I'm hap pi est when most a wayI can bear my soul from its home of clayOn a win dy night when the moon is brightAnd the eye can wan der through worlds of light—

When I am not and none be side—Nor earth nor sea nor cloud less sky—But on ly spi rit wan dering wideThrough in fin ite im mens it y.

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Practice: TonePractice: Tone

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has o’er-brimmed their clammy cells.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has o’er-brimmed their clammy cells. back

Practice: MetaphorPractice: Metaphor Choose one:

love, hunger, pain, happiness, sleep, desire

Chose one: 9 to 5 job, highway, tv dinner, flower, cloud,

hammer

Then describe what the metaphor you have created reveals about the referent.

Choose one: love, hunger, pain, happiness, sleep, desire

Chose one: 9 to 5 job, highway, tv dinner, flower, cloud,

hammer

Then describe what the metaphor you have created reveals about the referent.

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Practice: SimilePractice: Simile A relationship like... A professor as interesting as... Her face was like... A force as strong as... A night as long as... A comforting voice like... It made him uneasy, like... A job as appealing as... Her eyes beckoned, like...

A relationship like... A professor as interesting as... Her face was like... A force as strong as... A night as long as... A comforting voice like... It made him uneasy, like... A job as appealing as... Her eyes beckoned, like...

…a tractor trailer …a dying fish …a beer can full of cigarette butts …when a branch whips your face …beef stew …summer in Dallas …a newborn baby …a ripe peach …the smell of gasoline …the distant stars …golden coins …a field of violently yellow

sunflowers

…a tractor trailer …a dying fish …a beer can full of cigarette butts …when a branch whips your face …beef stew …summer in Dallas …a newborn baby …a ripe peach …the smell of gasoline …the distant stars …golden coins …a field of violently yellow

sunflowers

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Practice: IronyPractice: Irony

He loved the power of a speeding car. Her mother waved enthusiastically from the

doorway. He closed the door softly behind him.

He loved the power of a speeding car. Her mother waved enthusiastically from the

doorway. He closed the door softly behind him.

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Practice: SymbolPractice: Symbol

A blind man A dove A river The stars A play A computer screen Lightning A mountain

A blind man A dove A river The stars A play A computer screen Lightning A mountain

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Practice: AllegoryPractice: Allegory

Consider the following story line: Consider the following story line:

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Practice: Denotation & Connotation

Practice: Denotation & Connotation

She _____ his favorite T-shirt. After reading her e-mail he waited ten days,

then _____ a letter in response. They wandered through the park one _____

day.

She _____ his favorite T-shirt. After reading her e-mail he waited ten days,

then _____ a letter in response. They wandered through the park one _____

day.

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Practice: DictionPractice: Diction

She took an apple from under the tree. She took an apple from under the tree.

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Practice: SyntaxPractice: Syntax

She took an apple from under the tree. She took an apple from under the tree.

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Practice: ImageryPractice: Imagery

A couple, kissing for the first time (described by an outsider)

A city seen from an airplane A feather floating on a pond

A couple, kissing for the first time (described by an outsider)

A city seen from an airplane A feather floating on a pond

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