THEME Something that is repeatedly often and is one of the main ideas of the story/poem

EXAMPLE

METAPHOR

A figure of speech in which one object is compared to another

EXAMPLEHe was a bulldozer on the football field.

SIMILE A figure of speech in which one object is compared to another by using the words “like” or “as”

EXAMPLE“I’m exploding like a firework.”

SENSORY IMAGES

Images in your head from a very detailed description of something often using more than 1 of the 5 senses

EXAMPLEThe vibrant red strawberry juices fell onto the table.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

A word or phrase that departs every day literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or freshness

EXAMPLEHe growled like a grizzly bear in the morning.

PARALLELISM

When a writer expresses ideas of equal worth with the same grammatical form

EXAMPLEI thought about yesterday. I executed today.I planned for tomorrow.

PERSONIFICATION

When a nonhuman object takes on a human quality or characteristic

EXAMPLEThe tree danced in the wind.

ASSONANCE

Repetition of vowel sounds

EXAMPLEThe black cat sat back and observed.

REPETITION

Repeating of a sound, word, line, or stanza in a poem

EXAMPLE“Knock Knock” by Daniel Beaty

ALLITERATION

When two or more words in a poem begin with the same letter or sound

EXAMPLEPoetry is powerful and purposeful, exceeding in potency.

ALLUSION

A reference to an outside idea.

EXAMPLEThe Simpsons—American Idol

ONOMATOPOEIA

When a word sounds like the sound it represents

EXAMPLEBoom, hiss, buzz, pop

Click icon to add picture “Ghetto Almanac”