Poetic Devices

 What are poetic devices?

Poetic devices are a form of literary devices which are used in poetry.
Poetry can be created by using different types of poetic devices. The
elements that are used in poetry are structural, grammatical, rhythmic,
metrical, verbal, and visual elements. These poetic devices are the essential
tools applied by poets to create rhythm, enhance a poem’s meaning, or
intensify a mood or feeling represented in the poem.

 Why is it essential to use the poetic devices?

Although the use of any poetic device is optional, it is considered to be

very important because these poetic devices are used to intensify the
emotion that the writer tries to bring about in the poem. Besides this, the
poetic devices are also responsible for adding an exciting rhythm to the
poem, which makes the poem more meaningful.

When these poetic devices are used in an interesting manner, they tend
to add a visible sense of beauty to the poems. These devices also intensify
the true meaning of the poems by boosting the style of writing and
making it more dramatic and intimidating. The use of these devices
brings out the emotions hidden in the poem in the best manner, which
often leaves the reader in a sheer sense of mesmerization.

 Different Types of Poetic Devices

Poetic devices can be of three different types depending on the kind

of words that are being used. Each of these poetic devices can be used for
different purposes to bring out the best in a poem. The three different
types of poetic devices are as followers:

 Poetic Devices Based On The Sound Of Words: Such poetic

devices depend completely upon the sounds of the words that
are being used. Some examples of this type of poetic device
are alliteration, assonance, consonance, and cacophony,
among others.
 Poetic Devices Based On The Meaning Of The Words: Such
poetic devices completely depend upon the meanings of the
words which are being used by the poet in the poem. Some
examples of this kind of poetic device are allegory, allusion,
irony, and metaphor, among others.
  Poetic Devices Based On The Arrangements Of The
Words: Such poetic devices are related more to the structure
of the poem rather than the tone or the style. They completely
depend upon the arrangement pattern of the words used by
the poet in the poem. Examples of these kinds of devices are
verses and rhyme schemes.

 POETIC DEVICES BASED ON THE SOUND OF THE WORDS

1. Alliteration
Alliteration is referred to the multiple repetitions of a consonant
which happens to be the first letter of multiple words. This repetition takes
place multiple times in close syllables within the same group of words. This
technique is actually used by the poet to guide the reader’s attention
towards a single part of the text. This technique also adds a sense of
rhythm to the writing as the same sound is repeated over and over again to
represent a particular connotation. In other words: alliteration is when
the beginning sound of words is repeated in close succession.
Alliteration is focused on the sound of a word and not the letters in the
word. So for example, “k” and “c” could both be used alliteratively (cherry
cookies in the kitchen).
Examples: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”, “She sells
seashells on the seashore”. BRAND EXAMPLES: Best Buy, Coca Cola,
American Airlines, PayPal, Bed Bath and Beyond, Chuckee’s Cheese.
FAMOUS PEOPLE: Ronald Reagan, Jesse Jackson, Janet Jackson, Michael
Moore, Mickey Mouse, Lois Lane, Freddy Flinstone, Marylin Monroe, Donald
Duck, Spongebob Squarepants. PHRASES EXAMPLES: Busy as a bee, dead as
a doornail, home sweet home, right as rain.

2. Assonance
Assonance refers to the repetitive sound of a vowel that is present in
words in the same sentences. These words might either be together or near
to each other. This poetic device basically refers to the sounds that are
accented or stressed more in a particular line. This device is also used to
focus the mind of the reader on a particular area of the text. This device
stresses more on a particular feeling or an expression making it stand out
among other parts of a poetry.
Examples: “The cat is out of the bag”, “Good night, sleep tight, don’t
let the bedbugs bite”, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner”, “Motion of the
ocean”, “On a pound round cloud in white high night”.
 3. Consonance
Consonance as a poetic device is very similar to assonance. In
assonance, the vowel sound is repetitive, whereas, in consonance, the
consonant’s sound is repetitive. These consonants are a part of words
that are together are a part of the same whole sentence. In this case, the
syllables are known as the consonants and are placed at the end of each
word that is being used. Like most of the other poetic devices, which are
based on sound, the purpose of consonance is also to focus the attention
on the reader in a particular area or segment of the text.
Examples: “Boats into the past”, “Cool soul”, “He struck a streak of
bad luck”, “When Billie looked at the trailer, she smiled and laughed”.

4. Cacaphony
Cacophony is a very interesting poetic device that is known to create
a state of chaos or a sense of unpleasantness in the mind of the readers. It
refers to the use of an unmusical series of weird and unpleasant sounds,
which actually stands for a disorder or discomfort. This type of poetic device
is usually used by the poet to bring about the essence of discomfort or a
discordant situation in the minds of the readers. This technique works in
such a way that it actually creates a sense of unpleasantness in the reader’s
mind. The most important part of using this technique is to use the correct
kind of words.
Examples: “I detest war because the cause of war is always trivial”,
“Where spouting pillars spoor the evening sky”,

5. Euphony
The word euphony has been derived from the Greek word called
euphonious, which in normal terms means sweet voice. Thus euphony is a
poetic device that is usually used to bring about a very sweet and melodious
sound effect to the style of writing. This device tends to give a pleasing and
soothing effect to the readers by using repetitive sounds of vowels and
smooth consonants. Most of the time this poetic device is used with other
poetic devices like rhyme, assonance or alliteration to create a better and
more soothing effect on the writing style. This device is also known to bring
about a peaceful and pleasant feel in any piece of literary work and convey
the expression or message more efficiently.
Examples: “Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, “Courage!’ he
said, and pointed towards the land”, “This mounting wave will roll us
shoreward soon”
 6. Rhyme
Rhyme is an interesting and fun technique that refers to the use of
words which has similar sound effects at the end of each sentence. This
technique is known to bring about a sense of musicality to the poems. The
use of this poetic device is known to differentiate poetry from prose and is
known to create a pleasing effect in the poem. Rhyming sentences actually
makes it easier for people to learn the poems swiftly and makes the poems
much more fun and enjoyable.
Examples: “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a
great fall”, “Baa Baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three
bags full!” “Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow; And
everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go”.

 POETIC DEVICES BASED ON THE MEANING OF THE

WORDS

1. Allegory
Allegory is a very effective poetic device that actually represents the
abstract ideas that the poet wants to put forward in the form of characters,
events, and figures. This particular device is not restricted to poetry but can
be used in any part of prose as well. Allegory’s fundamental work is to
narrate a story or express the essence of the plot. In the case of poetry, it
helps to narrate the idea on which the entire plot is based. Most of the time,
the primary idea behind using an allegory to put forward a moral lesson.
Examples: “The Pilgrim’s Progress
2. Allusion
Allusion primarily refers to indirect references made in a piece of
literary work. These references might include a reference to a particular
place, person, or idea. These ideas might be either political or historical, and
cultural. An allusion is known to be a very brief reference and does not
discuss anything with proper details. It might be compared to a passing
comment; it touches the idea but does not explain it. When such allusions
are used, the reader is expected to understand the idea with the knowledge
they have.
Examples: “Don’t act like a Romeo in front of her.” – Here the word
“Romeo” is a reference to one of Shakespeare’s famous characters from
Romeo and Juliet. The reader is expected to know and understand this fact
without any explanation. Here “Romeo” also refers to a compassionate
lover as it was in Shakespeare’s work.
“This place is like a garden of Eden.” Here the garden of Eden refers
to the garden of God in Genesis. The reader is again expected to know and
understand this fact without any explanation.
 3. Irony
Irony is a very interesting poetic device that is used to represent
a contradictory situation. Such kinds of situations are expected to end
in one manner but actually ends up in some other manner. Irony is
known to make the difference between reality and appearance clearer
to the readers. An Irony is used to bring about a more defined style of
writing in the poem which in turn further develops the reader’s interest.
The use of this poetic device intrigues the reader’s mind and compels
them to imagine and assume the hidden meaning.

Example: Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did

shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.

4. Metaphor
A Metaphor primarily refers to a comparison in between two very
unlikely things. This device is used to bring about the resemblance between
two things that are known to be completely different from each other.
However, the comparison stated in such cases is absolutely direct and is not
hidden, and does not need to be assumed. But such comparisons are very
different from a simile.

Examples:
 If music be the food of love, play on.
 Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.
 Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.
 Hope is the thing with feathers.

5. Oxymoron
Oxymoron basically refers to the use of two contradictory ideas
which are put together one beside the other or as a part of a sentence to
create an interesting effect. These types of devices make the writing more
interesting and engaging.

Examples: 
 Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
 That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
 Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from
barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled
drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

6. Personification
 Personification is another very interesting poetic device that is used
to give an animal, an idea or a particular thing a human-like characteristic.
When any non-human object is defined as a human being, the entire
concept is referred to as personification. This device makes any writing very
impactful and interesting.

Examples:
 The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.
 The run-down house appeared depressed.
 The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.
 She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door.
 He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the
door.
 The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed
from one to another.

7. Simile
A simile refers to different types of direct comparisons which are
made in literary texts. It puts forward the difference between two things
that have no similarity with each other. Words like “like” or “as” are used to
draw comparisons.

Examples:
 During the house fire, my Dad was as brave as a lion.
 Sunday is a cleaning day. By the time we’re done, the house is
as clean as a whistle.
 That teacher was as dull as dishwater.
 I think my grandfather is as old as these hills!
 This house of cards is as sturdy as an oak.
 My best friend sings like an angel.
 After I received that “A” on my spelling test, I thought I might
soar like an eagle.
 Gah! Her voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard!
 In our eighth-grade pageant, we shone like stars.