POETIC SOUND DEVICES

SOUND DEVICES USED IN POETRY

Sound devices are resources used by poets to convey and reinforce the meaning or experience of poetry through the
skillful use of sound. After all, poets are trying to use a concentrated blend of sound and imagery to create an emotional
response. The words and their order should evoke images, and the words themselves have sounds, which can reinforce or
otherwise clarify those images. All in all, the poet is trying to get you, the reader, to sense a particular thing, and the use
of sound devices are some of the poets tools.

1. Alliteration
The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words.
Samples:
The peacock passes, a pompous one-bird procession.

2. Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
Samples: The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain.

3. Onomatopoeia
The use of a word whose sound suggests its meaning.
Sample:
The bacon sizzled in the frying pan.
The crashing thunder woke me from my sleep.

4. Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point. It is like the opposite of

understatement. It is from a Greek word meaning excess.
Hyperboles can be found in literature and oral communication. They would not be used in nonfiction
works, like medical journals or research papers; but, they are perfect for fictional works, especially to
add color to a character or humor to the story.
Hyperboles are comparisons, like similes and metaphors, but are extravagant and even ridiculous. They
are not meant to be taken literally.
Hyperbole Adds Excitement and Fun
A boring story can come to life or become comical with the use of a hyperbole. Some commonly used
examples of hyperbole include:
Ive told you a million times!
It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing jackets.
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have a million things to do.
I had to walk 15 miles to school in the snow, uphill.
I had a ton of homework.
If I cant buy that new game, I will die!
He is as skinny as a toothpick.
This car goes faster than the speed of light.
We are so poor; we dont have two cents to rub together.
That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was riding on a dinosaur.
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
He is older than the hills.

5. Personification is when you give human qualities or abilities to an object or animal. It is a

literary tool that adds interest and fun to a poem or story. When a writer brings a non-human
object to life it can help us understand better what they're trying to say.

Common Personification Examples

 Lightning danced across the sky.
The wind howled in the night.
The car complained as the key was turned.
Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.
My alarm clock yells at me every morning.
The avalanche devoured anything standing in its way.
Traffic slowed to a crawl.
The door protested as it opened slowly.
My house is a friend who protects me.
The moon played hide and seek with the clouds.
That book was so popular, it flew off the shelves.
My cars headlights winked at me.
She is so beautiful the camera loves her.
The stairs groaned as we walked on them.
Winters icy grip caused people to shudder.
Our vacuum hums a happy tune while it cleans.
You need to cross over at the mouth of the river.
When I didnt make the team, my dream of being a star died.

6. Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different
from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way
than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between the appearance and the
reality.
Types of Irony

On the grounds of the above definition, we distinguish two basic kinds of irony i.e. verbal irony and situational
irony. A verbal irony involves what one does not mean. When in response to a foolish idea, we say, what a
great idea! it is a verbal irony. A situational irony occurs when, for instance, a man is chuckling at the
misfortune of the other even when the same misfortune, in complete unawareness, is befalling him.

Common Examples of Irony

Let us analyze some interesting examples of irony from our daily life:

I posted a video on YouTube about how boring and useless YouTube is.

The name of Britains biggest dog was Tiny.

You laugh at a person who slipped stepping on a banana peel and the next thing you know, you slipped
too.

The butter is as soft as a marble piece.

Oh great! Now you have broken my new camera.