theme
The main idea or meaning of a text. Often, this is an insight about human life revealed in a literary work
imagery
Words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.
sound
The poet uses rhyme, rhythm, and/or repetition to help the listener to hear the poem.
rhythm
The beat of a poem.
lines
phrases or words in a stanza
form
What a poem looks like
figurative language
language employing one or more figures of speech (simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.)
simile
comparison using like or as
metaphor
comparison not using like or as
onomatopoeia
the use of words that imitate sounds
personification
A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes
hyperbole
extreme exaggeration
rhyme scheme/rhyme
The pattern in which rhyme sounds occur in a stanza. Example- the pattern ababbcbcc.
alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the BEGINNING of words.
repetition
repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis in a poem
stanza
The division in a poem named for the number of lines it contains.
stanza example
Super Samson Simpson (two stanzas)
by Jack Prelutsky
I am Super Samson Simpson,
I'm superlatively strong,
I like to carry elephants,
I do it all day long,
I pick up half a dozen
and hoist them in the air,
it's really somewhat simple,
for I have strength t
alliteration example
Super Samson Simpson
by Jack Prelutsky
I am Super Samson Simpson,
I'm superlatively strong,
I like to carry elephants,
I do it all day long,
I pick up half a dozen
and hoist them in the air,
it's really somewhat simple,
for I have strength to spare.
sound example
Drip Drop
by Bruce Lansky
Drip drop, drip drop,
darned rain won't stop.
Dropping on my windowpane,
it is driving me insane.
theme example
growing up
Whatif
by Shel Silverstein
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
imagery example
Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein (sight, smell, touch, taste)
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
and before the street begins,
and there the grass grows soft and white,
and there the sun burns crimson bright,
and there the moon-bird rests
rhythm example
poem/song with a beat
We Will Rock You
by Queen
repetition example
Twaddletalk Tuck
by Jack Prelutsky
I'm Twaddletalk Tuck and I talk and I talk
and I talk when I run and I talk when I walk
and I talk when I hop and I talk when I creep
and I talk when I wake and I talk when I sleep
and I talk when it's wet and I talk whe
hyperbole example
I've told you a million times.
personification example
The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.
The ocean danced in the moonlight.
onomatopoeia example
KABOOM!
Kaboom!
Ka-blast
Way in the past
the miners mined for ore.
They searched for copper, iron and salt,
for that and much, much more.
metaphor example
He was a stainless steel ruler, tall, straight and always measured in response.
simile example
...
form example
epic, rhyme