1. Appreciation of Poetry –
Poetic Devices
The poet makes use of poetic devices
and departs from the ordinary form
of expression or the ordinary course
of ideas in order to produce a greater
effect.
2. Simile:
In a simile, a comparison is made between two
objects of different kinds which have however
at least one point in common. The simile is
usually introduced by such words as like, as or
so.
E.g. The soul was like a star, and dwelt apart
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the
sea
3. Metaphor:
A metaphor is an implied simile. It
does not state that one thing is like
another but takes that for granted
and proceeds as if the two things
were one
E.g. The news was a dagger to his heart.
5. Apostrophe:
An apostrophe is a direct address
to the dead, to the absent or to a
personified object or idea.
E.g. O Solitude! Where are the charms
That sages have seen in thy face?
6.
7. Oxymoron:
Oxymoron is where two
contradictory qualities are
predicted at once of the same
thing.
E.g. His honour rooted in dishonour
stood and faith unfaithful kept him
falsely true.
8. Epigram:
An epigram is a brief pointed saying
frequently introducing antithetical
ideas which excite surprise and
arrest attention.
E.g. The child is the father of man.
9. Irony:
Irony is a mode of speech in which the
real meaning is exactly the opposite of
that which is literally conveyed.
E.g. No doubt but you are the people
and wisdom shall with you.
10. Transferred epithet:
In this the epithet is transferred
from its proper word to another
that is closely associated with it in
the sentence.
E.g. He passed a sleepless night.
11. Rhetorical Question:
This is a question asked not to get
an answer but to put a point more
effectively.
E.g. Breathes there a man whose soul
dead
Who never to himself hath said
This is my own, my native land?
12. Connotation:
In poetry,a fuller use should be made of individual
words. Words have two meanings, denotation and
connotation. Denotation is the dictionary meaning
whereas connotations are what a word suggests
beyond what it expresses.
E.g. The word assassin by denotation means only a
person who kills another but by connotatioi it
suggests terror, violence and bloodshed. It is by
connotation that a poet enriches his meaning in a
few words.
13. Imagery:
The language of Poetry is sensuous,
full of imagery. Imagery may be
defined as the representation of
sense experience such as sound,
smell, taste, a tactile experience
such as hardness, wetness or an
internal sensation such as hunger,
thirst etc
14. Rhyme and Rhythm:
Rhyme scheme is the same
sounds that give a musical
chime.
Rhythm refers to the regular
beat of sound and is the balance
between the accented and
unaccented syllables.
17. Tone:
Tone refers to the attitude of the poet
which may be playful, solemn, mocking,
reverent, calm, or excited
All these poetic devices give beauty and
richness to the poem and these will have
to be identified and appreciated by the
students.
