Poetic Devices

A word or phrase used to compare objects, ideas, thoughts or feelings to provide a clearer description.

A question that does not require an answer.

Extreme exaggeration.

Repeating (saying more than once) a word or phrase.

Comparing two things using “like”, ‘than” or “as”.

Repetition of similar or the same sounds at the start of words.

Giving human traits (emotions, desires, movements, gestures and speech) no non-human things (elements, animals, objects etc.).

A heart of gold

Using language to create an image in the reader’s head.

Pretty as a picture

Boom, clap the sound of my heart...

I'm so hungry I could eat a horse

Brief reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical or cultural significance.

Words that end with the same sound.

A word that mimics the sound it makes e.g. zoom, bang, ooh, oh, ow

The snow danced to the ground