Poetry is the best words in the best order. Poetry begins as a lump in the throat. Poetry is what makes your toes twinkle.

Poetry is the best words in the best order.

Poetry begins as a lump in the throat.

Poetry is what makes your toes twinkle.

Poetic Devices

SimilesA simile compares two things as similar, using the words like or as.

Her words cut like... White as... Red like... As hot as... As cold as... He ran like...

...a startled rabbit ...embers in a campfire ...a knife ...drops of blood ...a gussy ...an early Winter’s morning

Create your own similes

Metaphors:A metaphor is another way of creating an image. A metaphor says that one object is another:

The night is... The sun is... My bed is... His laugh is... A book is...

...an adventure to be taken ...a warm cocoon ...a dark hot chocolate ...a flower in springtime ...a healer’s touch

PersonificationPersonification is a special kind of metaphor in which human characteristics are given to non-human things: The wind... The trees... The fire... The door... The window... The moon...

...stretch out their withered arms ...smiled down upon us ...groaned to use its weary joints ...leapt and danced with delight ...whispered my name ...screams its protest

A gentle breeze... The cold wind... The branches... The bright sun... The dark night...

AlliterationUsing words that repeat the same sound at the beginning of the word is called alliteration

Activity

Using AlliterationSwarthy smoke-blackened smiths, smudged

with soot.

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Activity: recognising alliteration

Recognising alliteration List the examples of alliteration in this stanza

from Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The fair breeze flew, the white foam flew,

The furrow followed free;

We were the first that ever burst

Into that silent sea.

AssonanceThe repetition of similar vowels to create sound effects is called assonance

Breeze Ask Seaweed Far Dark leave Masking She

Use these or other words using assonance to create a 4-5 line poem

OnomatopoeiaWhen the name of the thing echoes or imitates its sound Dry leaves Small sticks Bees Cats The clock Cannons

Boom Buzz Crunch Tick tock Hiss Crack

Complete the following sentences The wind ____________ Her anger ___________ The balloon __________ The trumpet __________ The frightened dog _____ The church bells ______ The rain _____________ The fly ______________

Rhyme:Rhyme occurs in poetry when similar sounds are repeated at the ends of lines.

Read the poem: Look out! By Max Fatchen

Identify the rhyming words in this poem What is the poem about?

References

Content of slides taken or adapted from: Guest & Eshuys, 1997. English Elements 2