ppasdLiterary/Poetic Devices

http://literary-devices.com
Device Definition Example

Alliteration Has the same sound and Peter Piper picked a peck
letter that rhyme. of pickled peppers. If
Peter picked a peck of
pickled peppers, where’s
the peck of pickled
peppers Peter picked.

Allusion Saying something without That guy is young,

saying it. scrappy, and hungry.

Assonance The same vowel sound. Sally sells sea shells

beside the shore.

End Rhyme A rhyme at the end of the Tyger, tiger burning

verse. bright, in the forest of
the night.

Hyperbole Using an example but not My parents are gonna kill

taking it literally. me when they find out.

Internal Rhyme Two or more words within Stand, land

a line or verse of a poem
rhyme.

Metaphor An expression that Life is like a

describes someone or an rollercoaster
object and refers them to
something

Oxymoron Combines contradictory “Small crowd”

words with opposite
meanings.

Paradox A situation, person, or Save money, by spending

thing that combines it.

Personification A person, animal, or Rita heard the last piece

 object representing a of pie calling her.
quality, concept, or thing.

Simile Figurative of speech. You were as brave as a

lion

Slant Rhyme The sound shared by both “Worm” “swarm.”

words does not have to
have a stressed syllable.

Symbolism The idea that things Four leaf clover-

represent other things. represents good look or
fortune.

Directions: On the following pages, you will highlight and label

the literary devices for each poem/song. Use highlights that
are similar in color to the chart above. Don’t forget to label!
Starry Night (dedicated in memory to Vincent Van Gogh)

A creative heart, obsessed with satisfying

This dormant and uncaring society
You have given them the stars at night
And you have given them bountiful bouquets of
sunflowers
But for you there is only contempt
And though you pour yourself into that frame
And present it so proudly
This world could not accept your masterpieces
 From the heart.

So on that starry night

You gave to us and
You took away from us
The one thing we never acknowledged...your life

Sometimes I Cry
Sometimes when I’m alone
I cry because I’m on my own
The tears I cry are bitter and warm
They flow with life but take no form
I cry because my heart is torn
And I find it difficult to carry on
If I had an ear to confide in
I would cry among my treasured friends
But who do you know that stops that long to
help another
carry on?
The world moves fast and it would rather
pass you by
Than to stop and see what makes you cry
It’s painful and sad and sometimes I cry
And NO ONE cares about why.

The Autumn Wind

The Autumn wind is a pirate

Blustering in from sea

With a rollicking song he sweeps along

Swaggering boisterously.

His face is weatherbeaten

He wears a hooded sash

With a silver hat about his head

And a bristling black mustache.

He growls as he storms the country

A villain big and bold

 And the trees all shake and quiver and quake

As he robs them of their gold.

The Autumn wind is a Raider

Pillaging just for fun

He’ll knock you ’round and upside down

And laugh when he’s conquered and won.

All of Me

What would I do without your smart mouth?

Drawing me in, and you kicking me out

You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down

What's going on in that beautiful mind

I'm on your magical mystery ride

And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

My head's under water

But I'm breathing fine

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

 All your perfect imperfections

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

How many times do I have to tell you

Even when you're crying you're beautiful too

The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood

You're my downfall, you're my muse

Take Me To Church

My lover's got humor

She's the giggle at a funeral

Knows everybody's disapproval

I should've worshiped her sooner

If the heavens ever did speak

She's the last true mouthpiece

Every Sunday's getting more bleak

A fresh poison each week

"We were born sick"

You heard them say it

My church offers no absolutes

 She tells me "worship in the bedroom"

The only heaven I'll be sent to

Is when I'm alone with you

I was born sick, but I love it

Command me to be well

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

If I'm a pagan of the good times

My lover's the sunlight

Love Me Like You Do

You're the light, you're the night

You're the color of my blood

You're the cure, you're the pain

You're the only thing I wanna touch

Never knew that it could mean so much, so much

You're the fear, I don't care

Cause I've never been so high

Follow me to the dark

 Let me take you past our satellites

You can see the world you brought to life, to life

What are you waiting for?

Fading in, fading out

On the edge of paradise