Poetry Notes
Devices
Verse
a short poem or a section of a poem
Stanza
a section of a poem
Alliteration
the repetition of the same first sound in a
group of words or a line of poetry
Onomatopoeia a word whose sound suggests its meaning
Rhyme
the repetition of similar end sounds
Rhythm
any regular, repeating pattern
Rhyme scheme
the pattern of end rhymes or lines
Hyperbole
an exaggeration for effect
Idiom
an expression that has a figurative meaning and a
literal meaning
Imagery
evokes mental images, not only
of the visual sense, but also of
sensation (touch, taste, smell,
sound, orientation) and emotion.
Metaphor
the comparison between
unrelated things
Simile
the comparison between two
unlike nouns using “like” or “as”
to bridge the connection
Personification
assigning human traits to
inanimate things
Types of Poetry
Free verse
Haiku
Limerick
Cinquain
You don't know my life and you don't know my story,
But one thing I can tell you;
Is it's not sprinkled with glory.
My days were filled with ridicule and rumors,
And all those lies spread like cancerous tumors.
I pretended to block out the words as if they don't hurt,
But after awhile, that no longer worked.
Your words make me change into something I'm not,
And for you, I pretended,
I pretended a lot.
Now I come home every day and lay on my bed
And for hours on end, my tears are shed.
I shed tears for I am so ashamed,
ashamed I'm pretending to play your game.
Today I end my pretending,
I will pretend no more.
No longer will my heart be so sore,
I will be me and me I will be,
and I will be me for all the others to see.
And as for the rest of you,
You'll always be pathetic pretenders.
Amanda Leigh, Maine
Short, centuries old, Japanese
poetry that reflects on nature
and feelings.
Haiku
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Snow melts after months.
Suddenly, the village is
full of playing kids.
Limerick
There was a young man from Dealing
Who caught the bus for Ealing.
It said on the door
Don't spit on the floor
So he jumped up and spat on the ceiling.
humorous verse of five lines
first, second, and fifth lines rhyme
third and fourth lines, which are shorter, form a rhymed couplet
Cinquain
(sin-cane)
Line 1:
Line 2:
Line 3:
Line 4:
Line 5:
Title (noun) – 1 word
Description – 2 words
Action – 3 words
Feeling (phrase) – 4 words
Title (synonym for title) – 1 word
An example
Mom (title – noun)
Helpful, caring (2 describing words)
Loves to garden (3 action words)
Excitable, likes satisfying people (4 word phrase)
Teacher (synonym for “mom”)