This document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech used in poetry: - Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. - Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words. - A simile is a comparison between two things using like or as. - A metaphor directly compares two things not normally associated, without using like or as. - Personification gives human traits to non-human things. - Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words. - Repetition involves saying the same thing again. - Antithesis contrasts two opposite ideas.

1. POETRY

2. FIGURES
OF
SPEECH

3. WHAT IS ALLITERATION?
The use of the same sound or sounds especially
consonants at the beginning of several words that are
close.
“We have no time to stand and stare?”
The consonant ‘s’ is repeated at the beginning of ‘stand’ and
‘stare’.

4. WHAT IS ASSONANCE?
The similarity of sounds between two syllables created
by the same vowel like:
Back – hat

5. EXTRACT THE ALLITERATION AND THE ASSONANCE:
“I have to go to bed by day.”
“In winter I get up at night.”
Alliteration:
The sound ‘b’ is repeated at the beginning of ‘by’ and ‘bed’.
Assonance:
The sound ‘t’ is repeated at the end of ‘get’ and ‘night’

6. WHAT IS SIMILE?
It is comparing one thing with another, always including
words like (as – like).
“Streams full of stars, like skies at night”
The sparkling streams here are compared to the shinning
skies.

7. WHAT IS METAPHOR?
It is describing an object or a thing in a way that is not
literally true but it helps to explain an idea.
“No enemy”
“But winter and rough weather.”
The poet here compares the rough weather of winter to an
enemy.

8. EXTRACT THE SIMILE AND THE METAPHOR:
“The birds ate silent in their nest.”
“And I must seek for mine.”
“The moon like a flower.”
Metaphor:
The poet speaks about his home as a nest.
Simile:
The poet compares the moon to a flower.

9. WHAT IS PERSONIFICATION?
It is giving human characteristics such as (seeing –
hearing – feeling) to non-human thing.
“And watch the nature’s feet, how they can dance”
The poet here personifies the nature as a beautiful girl
who can dance.

10. WHAT IS CONSONANCE?
The combination of sounds that are pleasant when
heard together.
“But winter and rough weather.”
The consonant sound ‘r’ is repeated at the end of
‘winter’ and ‘weather’.

11. EXTRACT THE PERSONIFICATION AND THE CONSONANCE:
“the moon like a flower.”
“Sits and smiles at night.”
“In winter I get up at night.”
Personification:
The moon is personified as a person who can sit and smile.
Consonance:
The sound ‘t’ is repeated at the end of ‘get’ and ‘night.

12. WHAT IS REPETITION?
The act of saying the same thing again.
“No time to see, when woods we pass
No time to see, in board daylight.”
The phrase ‘No time to see’ is repeated twice.

13. WHAT IS ANTITHESIS?
The opposite of something.
“No time to see, in board daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.”
‘Daylight’ and ‘night’ are opposites.