Poetic Techniques

Year 10 English

Structure
The format of a poem. Some may display a clearly recognisable form such as a sonnet or a haiku. They may have regular stanzas, lines of similar length, and regular rhyme and rhythm patters. Other poems, however, may be completely inconsistent in these areas.

Language
The choice of words the poet uses to convey ideas and feelings.

Poetic Techniques

Imagery
The creation of images or pictures in our imagination by the poet.

Mood
The general tone of a poem is referred to as the mood of the poem.

Repetition
The repeating of ideas, words, or phrases for emphasis or because it sounds effective.

Poetic Techniques

Rhyme
Repetition of the same sound at the ends of words. The most common form of rhyme is endrhyme, where the end sound of one line matches up with the end sound of another line. Less common is internal rhyme, the rhyming of a word that occurs halfway through a line with the end word of the same line.

Poetic Techniques

Rhyme Scheme
An identifiable pattern of end-rhyme that occurs in the poem. Letters of the alphabet (Eg. ABAB; CDCD) are used at the end of each line of the poem to determine the rhyme scheme. Rhyme schemes are usually described as being regular or irregular.

Poetic Techniques

Assonance
Repetition of the same vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds. This is different from rhyme where the same vowel sounds are followed by the same consonant sounds. Eg. seen and deep are in assonance, while seen and been rhyme. Assonance is a technique commonly used by poets to achieve a musical effect.

Poetic Techniques

Rhythm

Simile

The musical flow of language, or the beat of the poem. This is produced mainly by a pattern of accented and unaccented syllables. A comparison between two basically unlike things, using the words like or as. A comparison between two basically unlike things, without using the words like or as. One thing is said to be another.

Metaphor

Poetic Techniques

Personification
The giving of human qualities to non-human things.

Hyperbole
Say high-per-bow-lee Deliberate exaggeration for dramatic effect.

Alliteration
The deliberate repetition of the consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are consecutive or sufficiently close to produce a noticeable effect.

Poetic Techniques

Onomatopoeia

y y

Oxymoron Allusion

Say on-oh-mat-oh-pea-ah The use of a word that sounds like the sound it is describing. A contradiction in two words. A direct or indirect reference, without any lengthy explanation, to a person, a place, religion, literature, or history. There are four major types of allusion
x x x x Classical Religious (Biblical) Historical Literary

Poetic Techniques

Symbolism
The use of expressions which represent certain ideas. Eg. The flag symbolises patriotism; the Cross symbolises Christianity; the dove symbolises peace.

Paradox
A statement which is true although it contains two seemingly opposite ideas. Eg. You have to be cruel to be kind.

Poetic Techniques