Poetic Devices: Rhythm and Meaning

Poetic Devices: 

Comprehending the devices of poetry will guide you better to understand the synonyms of poems. 

Remember, generally in poetry, the meaning of the words isn’t literal. It’s figurative. 

The figurative language and symbolism are essential devices in poetry. However, there are other elements that help create images, rhythm and meaning. 

1. Alliteration: 

The repetition of beginning consonant sounds 

Example: 

Creamy and crunchy. 

Nodded nearly napping  

2. Assonance: 

The recapitulation of vowel sound. 

Observe the repetition of the long “I” sound in the following example. 

Example: 

Till the shining scythes went far and wide and cut it down to dry 

3. Consonance: 

The recapitulation of consonant sounds (differs from alliteration because the sound can be anywhere within the word, not just the beginning. 

Example: 

The singer sings of ropes and things in ships upon the sea 

4. End Rhyme: 

The words at the end of two or more lines of poetry that sound has same sound. 

Example: 

She always had to burn a light  

beside her attic bed at night. 

5. Rhyme Scheme: 

A pattern of lines that rhyme in poetry. 

There are many different common rhyme schemes: AABB, ABAB and AAAB (to name a few) 

6. Internal Rhyme: 

The rhyming of words within one line of poetry. 

Example: 

Jack sprat could eat no fat 

Peter Peter pumpkin eater.  

Onomatopoeia: 

The use of a word that sounds like what it means. 

Example: 

Buzz, gunk, gushy, swish, zigzag, zip. 

Repetition: 

The repetition of a phrase or word to add rhythm or emphasize an idea. 

Example: 

When I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. 

Refrain: 

Line, lines or stanza repeated throughout a poem (like a “chorus” in a song) 

Quote the raven, “Never more.” 

Stanza: 

A group of lines within a poem that go together. 

Stanzas may consist of anywhere from two or more lines. 

Quatrain:

A four-line stanza 

Common rhyme schemes in quatrains are AABB, ABAB and AAAB 

Example: 

I wish I had no teachers. that’s what I’d like to see. 

I’d do whatever I wanted to, and nobody ‘d yell at me.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s): 

1. What are poetic devices?  
   Poetic device is a technique a writers use to produce a special effect on their poems. 

2. Where should poetic devices be used?  
   Poetic devices should be used while writing a poem/poetry or prose. 

3. What is Onomatopoeia?  
   The describing word that describes itself is called Onomatopoeia. 

4. What is the example of stanza? 
   Stanza is a four-line common rhyme scheme in quatrain. 
   Example:  

           I wish I had no teachers. that’s what I’d like to see.  

           I’d do whatever I wanted to, and nobody ‘d yell at me