LITERARY DEVICES - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

LITERARY DEVICES

used in PoetrySlide2

METER

a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

´ for stressed

˘ for unstressedSlide3

RHYME SCHEME

pattern of end rhymes in a poem

To indicate the rhyme scheme of a poem, use a letter of the alphabet for each rhyme

Ex)

aa

bb

Nature’s first green is

gold

,

Her hardest hue to

hold

.

Her early leaf’s a

flower

,

But only so an

hour

.

Slide4

END RHYME

rhymes at the end of lines

Ex)

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

~ Emily DickinsonSlide5

INTERNAL RHYME

rhymes within a line

Ex)

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore –

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door –

Only this and nothing more.”

~ Edgar Allan PoeSlide6

APPROXIMATE RHYME

rhymes involving sounds that are similar but not exactly the same

Ex)

Leave/Live

or

Pain/AgainSlide7

STANZA

a group of consecutive lines in a poem that form a single unit

expresses a unit of thought

stanza

= an Italian word for “stopping place” or “place to rest”Slide8

REFRAIN

a repeated sound, word, phrase, line, or group of lines

used to build rhythm or provide emphasis

Ex) “coming to America” in the song

“America” by Neil DiamondSlide9

SPEAKER

the voice talking to us in a poem

best to think of voice as a character the poet has created

character could be a child, a woman, a man, an animal, or an object; it is best to think of voice as a character the poet has created, not the actual poet Slide10

EXTENDED METAPHOR

a metaphor that is extended, or developed, over several lines of writing or even throughout an entire work

Ex) “O Captain! My Captain!”

by Walt WhitmanSlide11

METAPHOR

a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing

does

NOT

use

like

or

as

Ex) She has a heart of stone.

He is a bear in the morning.Slide12

SIMILE

a comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as

like

,

as, than, or resembles

Ex)

When you see me sitting quietly,

Like a sack left on the shelf,

Don’t think I need your chattering.

I’m listening to myself…

~ from “On Aging,” by Maya AngelouSlide13

ALLITERATION

the repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together

usually occurs at the beginning of words

Helps establish mood, emphasize words, and serve as a memory aid

Ex) nodded, nearly nappingSlide14

ASSONANCE

the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together

Ex)

They are death’s snowbound sailors;

they know only a continual

drifting between moonlit islands,

their tongues licking the stars.

~ from “Wolves” by John HainesSlide15

ONOMATOPOEIA

the use of words whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning

Ex)

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 oversprinkle

All the Heavens, seem to twinkle

With a crystalline delight.

~ from “The Bells” by Edgar Allan PoeSlide16

IMAGERY

language that appeals to the senses

Ex)

“A slow widening of her thin black lips to show even, small white teeth, then the slow effortless closing.”

~ from “Mrs. Flowers” by Maya AngelouSlide17

ALLUSION

a reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, the arts, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science

What are some examples from “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe?Slide18

PERSONIFICATION

a figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it had human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.

Ex)

Slowly, silently, now the moon

Walks the night in her silver shoon;

This way, and that, she peers and sees

Silver fruit upon silver trees.

~ from “Silver” by Walter de la MareSlide19

SYMBOL

a person, a place, a thing, or an event that has meaning in itself and stands for something beyond itself as well.

Ex) bald eagle = United States

Star of David = Judaism

cross = Christianity

white dove = peaceSlide20

HYPERBOLE

an exaggeration or overstatement used for effect

Ex)

“His smile was so wide he’d have to break it into sections to fit it through the doorway.”

~ from

Maniac Magee

by Jerry SpinelliSlide21

COUPLET

a two (2) line stanza

Ex)

But do not so; I love thee in such sort,

As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William ShakespeareSlide22

QUATRAIN

a four (4) line stanza

Ex)

Let me confess that we two must be twain,

Although our undivided loves are one;

So shall these blots that do with me remain,

Without thy help, by me be borne alone.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William ShakespeareSlide23

SESTET

a six (6) line stanza

Ex)

I may not evermore acknowledge thee,

Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame;

Nor thou with public kindness honour me,

Unless thou take that honour from thy name:

But do not so; I love thee in such sort,

As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William ShakespeareSlide24

OCTAVE

an eight (8) line stanza

Ex)

Let me confess that we two must be twain,

Although our undivided loves are one;

So shall these blots that do with me remain,

Without thy help, by me be borne alone.

In our two loves there is but one respect,

Though in our lives a separable spite,

Which though it alter not love’s sole effect,

Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love’s delight.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William ShakespeareSlide25

What literary devices are used in this poem?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning