1. Poetic Devices
Mrs. Weeks
Grade 5 Language and Literacy

2. Imagery (Meaning)

3. Imagery (Meaning)
Descriptive language used by writers in poems,
stories, etc. to create pictures in the reader’s mind.

4. Imagery (Meaning)
Descriptive language used by writers in poems,
stories, etc. to create pictures in the reader’s mind.
There are six types of imagery: visual, tactile,
auditory, olfactory, kinesthetic, gustatory.

5. Visual Imagery (Meaning)

6. Visual Imagery (Meaning)
Consists of things we can see.

7. Visual Imagery (Meaning)
Consists of things we can see.
Example:

8. Visual Imagery (Meaning)
Consists of things we can see.
Example:
I sail past beaches, gleaming white,
with palm trees swaying in the night.
I watch the waves break on the shore,
and then I see my bedroom floor!

9. Visual Imagery (Meaning)
Consists of things we can see.
Example:
I sail past beaches, gleaming white,
with palm trees swaying in the night.
I watch the waves break on the shore,
and then I see my bedroom floor!
-From: My Bed is Like a Sailing Ship by Bruce Lansky

10. Visual Imagery (Meaning)
Consists of things we can see.
Example: Click to read the
I sail past beaches, gleaming white, entire poem!
with palm trees swaying in the night.
I watch the waves break on the shore,
and then I see my bedroom floor!
-From: My Bed is Like a Sailing Ship by Bruce Lansky

11. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)

12. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.

13. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:

14. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:
When I think of the lollies I licked,

15. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:
When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice allsorts I picked,

16. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:
When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice allsorts I picked,
The sherbet dabs, big and little,

17. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:
When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice allsorts I picked,
The sherbet dabs, big and little,
All that hard peanut brittle,

18. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:
When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice allsorts I picked,
The sherbet dabs, big and little,
All that hard peanut brittle,
My conscience gets horribly pricked.

19. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example:
When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice allsorts I picked,
The sherbet dabs, big and little,
All that hard peanut brittle,
My conscience gets horribly pricked.
From: Oh I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth by Pam Ayres

20. Tactile Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of touch.
Example: Click to read
When I think of the lollies I licked, and listen to the
And the liquorice allsorts I picked, entire poem!
The sherbet dabs, big and little,
All that hard peanut brittle,
My conscience gets horribly pricked.
From: Oh I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth by Pam Ayres

21. Auditory Imagery (Meaning)

22. Auditory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing. The author
uses descriptive language to represent sounds.

23. Auditory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing. The author
uses descriptive language to represent sounds.
An example of auditory imagery is onomatopoeia.

24. Auditory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing. The author
uses descriptive language to represent sounds.
An example of auditory imagery is onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia is the use of a word that sounds like
what it stands for. For example, “buzz,” and
“sizzle.”

25. Auditory Imagery (Continued)

26. Auditory Imagery (Continued)
Example:

27. Auditory Imagery (Continued)
Example:
On the Ning Nang
Nong So its Ning Nang Nong
On the Ning Nang Nong Cows go Bong!
Where the Cows go Bong! Nong Nang Ning
And the monkeys all say BOO! Trees go ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
There's a Nong Nang Ning What a noisy place to belong
Where the trees go Ping! is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!
And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang Spike Milligan
All the mice go Clang
And you just can't catch 'em when
they do!

28. Auditory Imagery (Continued)
Example:
On the Ning Nang
Nong So its Ning Nang Nong
On the Ning Nang Nong Cows go Bong!
Where the Cows go Bong! Nong Nang Ning
Trees go ping
Click to read And the monkeys all say BOO!
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
and listen to this There's a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!
poem! And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang Spike Milligan
All the mice go Clang
And you just can't catch 'em when
they do!

29. Olfactory Imagery (Meaning)

30. Olfactory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell. The author uses
descriptive language to represent smells.

31. Olfactory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell. The author uses
descriptive language to represent smells.
Example: Excerpt- The Curse of the Foul-Smelling Armpit

32. Olfactory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell. The author uses
descriptive language to represent smells.
Example: Excerpt- The Curse of the Foul-Smelling Armpit

33. Olfactory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell. The author uses
descriptive language to represent smells.
Example: Excerpt- The Curse of the Foul-Smelling Armpit
The curse of the foul-smelling armpit
is the one thing it’s best to avoid;
it’s a HORROR that lurks unsuspecting
and has many a friendship destroyed.
For people no longer stand near you—
they throw back their heads in despair
and rush away looking quite frantic,
the shock is just TOO MUCH to bear!
-By: Trevor Harvey

34. Olfactory Imagery (Meaning)
Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell. The author uses
descriptive language to represent smells.
Example: Excerpt- The Curse of the Foul-Smelling Armpit
The curse of the foul-smelling armpit
is the one thing it’s best to avoid; Click to read the
it’s a HORROR that lurks unsuspecting
and has many a friendship destroyed. entire poem!
For people no longer stand near you—
they throw back their heads in despair
and rush away looking quite frantic,
the shock is just TOO MUCH to bear!
-By: Trevor Harvey

35. Kinesthetic Imagery (Meaning)

36. Kinesthetic Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language represents
actions or movements.

37. Kinesthetic Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language represents
actions or movements.
Example: Excerpt- I’m Bouncing Off the Windows

38. Kinesthetic Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language represents
actions or movements.
Example: Excerpt- I’m Bouncing Off the Windows

39. Kinesthetic Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language represents
actions or movements.
Example: Excerpt- I’m Bouncing Off the Windows
I'm running like I'm crazy.
I'm running like I'm mad.
I might seem like a lunatic
but, boy, I'm feeling glad.
By: Kenn Nesbitt

40. Kinesthetic Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language represents
actions or movements.
Example: Excerpt- I’m Bouncing Off the Windows
I'm running like I'm crazy.
I'm running like I'm mad.
I might seem like a lunatic Click to read the
but, boy, I'm feeling glad.
By: Kenn Nesbitt entire poem!

41. Gustatory Imagery (Meaning)

42. Gustatory Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language suggests the
taste of things.

43. Gustatory Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language suggests the
taste of things.
Example: I Ate a Spicy Pepper

44. Gustatory Imagery (Meaning)
The author’s use of descriptive language suggests the
taste of things.
Example: I Ate a Spicy Pepper
I ate a spicy pepper I ricocheted around the
From my brother on a dare. room.
The pepper caught my head I ran across the ceiling. At last, the flames
on fire I dove right in the freezer extinguished,
And burned off all my hair. To relieve the burning I admitted to my brother,
feeling. "That pepper was the best
My mouth erupted lava
one yet.
And my tongue began to I drank a thousand soda
May I please have another?
melt. pops
My ears were shooting jets of And chewed a ton of ice -By: Kenn Nesbitt
steam. To try to stop the scorching
At least that's how they felt. Of that spicy pepper's spice.

45. Metaphor (Meaning)

46. Metaphor (Meaning)
A type of figurative language which compares two
seemingly unlike things.

47. Metaphor (Meaning)
A type of figurative language which compares two
seemingly unlike things.
Examples:

48. Metaphor (Meaning)
A type of figurative language which compares two
seemingly unlike things.
Examples:
Her hair is silk

49. Metaphor (Meaning)
A type of figurative language which compares two
seemingly unlike things.
Examples:
Her hair is silk
He is drowning in debt

50. Let’s Ponder a Poem

51. Let’s Ponder a Poem
A Book Is

52. Let’s Ponder a Poem
A Book Is
A book is an hour glass
an open flower whose pages flow as hours pass
scented pages, fragrant hours
a lock and key an apple core
a crafty fox that opens doors and sets minds with seeds inside for growing more
surprising in its clever plots free
a trusted friend
a fairy's wings an ancient clock that keeps its secret to the end
with princesses, enchanted kings that speaks the times but never
talks - Adapted from a poem by
a windowsill Kathy Leeuwenburg
where breezy thoughts are never an open letter
still when read again the friendship's
better

53. Let’s Ponder a Poem
A Book Is How is the author using
A book is an hour glass metaphor in this poem?
an open flower whose pages flow as hours pass
scented pages, fragrant hours
a lock and key an apple core
a crafty fox that opens doors and sets minds with seeds inside for growing more
surprising in its clever plots free
a trusted friend
a fairy's wings an ancient clock that keeps its secret to the end
with princesses, enchanted kings that speaks the times but never
talks - Adapted from a poem by
a windowsill Kathy Leeuwenburg
where breezy thoughts are never an open letter
still when read again the friendship's
better

54. Simile (Meaning)

55. Simile (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which two things are compared
using the words “like” or “as”

56. Simile (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which two things are compared
using the words “like” or “as”
Examples:

57. Simile (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which two things are compared
using the words “like” or “as”
Examples:
“Life is like a box of chocolates.”

58. Simile (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which two things are compared
using the words “like” or “as”
Examples:
“Life is like a box of chocolates.”
She’s as pretty as a picture.

59. Let’s Ponder a Poem

60. Let’s Ponder a Poem
Predictable

61. Let’s Ponder a Poem
Predictable
Poor as a church bald as an eagle,
mouse. neat as a pin, as soon as they start to
strong as an ox, proud as a peacock, use a cliché.
cute as a button, ugly as sin.
smart as a fox. By: Bruce
When people are Lansky
thin as a toothpick, talking
white as a ghost, you know what they'll
fit as a fiddle, say
dumb as a post.

62. Let’s Ponder a Poem
Predictable How is the author using
Poor as a church bald as an eagle, simile in this poem?
mouse. neat as a pin, as soon as they start to
strong as an ox, proud as a peacock, use a cliché.
cute as a button, ugly as sin.
smart as a fox. By: Bruce
When people are Lansky
thin as a toothpick, talking
white as a ghost, you know what they'll
fit as a fiddle, say
dumb as a post.

63. Personification (Meaning)

64. Personification (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which something that is not
human is given human characteristics.
Example:

65. Personification (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which something that is not
human is given human characteristics.
Example:
Hey diddle diddle,
the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon,
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
- Mother Goose

66. Personification (Meaning)
A type of metaphor in which something that is not
human is given human characteristics.
Example: How did Mother Goose
Hey diddle diddle, use personification in this
the cat and the fiddle, poem?
The cow jumped over the moon,
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
- Mother Goose

67. Rhyme (Music)

68. Rhyme (Music)
The occurrence of the same or similar sounds at the
end of two or more words.

69. Rhyme (Music)
The occurrence of the same or similar sounds at the
end of two or more words.
Example:Excerpt- BillyMcBone

70. Rhyme (Music)
The occurrence of the same or similar sounds at the
end of two or more words.
Example:Excerpt- BillyMcBone
Billy McBone
had a mind of his own,
which he mostly kept under his hat.
The teachers all thought
that he couldn't be taught,
but Bill didn't seem to mind that.

71. Rhyme (Music)
The occurrence of the same or similar sounds at the
end of two or more words.
Example:Excerpt- BillyMcBone
Billy McBone
Click to read had a mind of his own,
and listen to this which he mostly kept under his hat.
The teachers all thought
entire poem! that he couldn't be taught,
but Bill didn't seem to mind that.

72. Repetition (Music)

73. Repetition (Music)
The repeating of words or phrases in a poem.

74. Repetition (Music)
The repeating of words or phrases in a poem.
Example: My Brendon Gallacher by Jackie Kay

75. Repetition (Music)
The repeating of words or phrases in a poem.
Example: My Brendon Gallacher by Jackie Kay
He was seven and I was six, My mum says to me, ‘I was
A wee holiday some place nice.
my Brendon Gallacher. talking to Mrs Moir
Some place far.
He was Irish and I was who lives next door to your
I’d tell my mum about my
Scottish, my Brendon Brendon Gallacher.
Brendon Gallacher.
Gallacher. Didn’t you say his address
His father was in prison; he was 24 Novar?
How his mum drank and his
was a cat burglar. She says there are no
daddy was a cat burglar.
My father was a Communist Gallachers at 24 Novar.
And she’d say, ‘Why not
Party full-time worker.
have him round to dinner?’
He had six brothers and I There never have been any
No, no, I’d say, he’s got big
had one, my Brendon Gallachers next door.’
holes in his trousers.
Gallacher. And he died then, my
I like meeting him by the burn
Brendon Gallacher,
in the open air.
He would hold my hand and flat out on my bedroom floor,
Then one day after we’d been
take me by the river his spiky hair,
friends for two years,
where we’d talk all about his his impish grin, his funny,
family being poor. flapping ear.
one day when it was pouring
He’d get his mum out of Oh Brendon. Oh my
and I was indoors,
Glasgow when he got older. Brendon Gallacher.

76. Repetition (Music) Click to read and listen
to this poem!
The repeating of words or phrases in a poem.
Example: My Brendon Gallacher by Jackie Kay
He was seven and I was six, My mum says to me, ‘I was
A wee holiday some place nice.
my Brendon Gallacher. talking to Mrs Moir
Some place far.
He was Irish and I was who lives next door to your
I’d tell my mum about my
Scottish, my Brendon Brendon Gallacher.
Brendon Gallacher.
Gallacher. Didn’t you say his address
His father was in prison; he was 24 Novar?
How his mum drank and his
was a cat burglar. She says there are no
daddy was a cat burglar.
My father was a Communist Gallachers at 24 Novar.
And she’d say, ‘Why not
Party full-time worker.
have him round to dinner?’
He had six brothers and I There never have been any
No, no, I’d say, he’s got big
had one, my Brendon Gallachers next door.’
holes in his trousers.
Gallacher. And he died then, my
I like meeting him by the burn
Brendon Gallacher,
in the open air.
He would hold my hand and flat out on my bedroom floor,
Then one day after we’d been
take me by the river his spiky hair,
friends for two years,
where we’d talk all about his his impish grin, his funny,
family being poor. flapping ear.
one day when it was pouring
He’d get his mum out of Oh Brendon. Oh my
and I was indoors,
Glasgow when he got older. Brendon Gallacher.

77. Rhythm (Music)

78. Rhythm (Music)
A regular beat in poetry, music, or dance.

79. Rhythm (Music)
A regular beat in poetry, music, or dance.
Example: Excerpt-The Boneyard Rap

80. Rhythm (Music)
A regular beat in poetry, music, or dance.
Example: Excerpt-The Boneyard Rap
This is the rhythm
of the boneyard rap: It's the boneyard rap
knuckle bones click and it's a scare.
and hand bones clap, Give your bones a shake-up
finger bones flick if you dare.
and thigh bones slap Rattle your teeth
when you're doing the rhythm and waggle your jaw
of the boneyard rap. and let's do the boneyard rap
Wooooooooo! once more.
By: Wes Magees

81. Rhythm (Music)
A regular beat in poetry, music, or dance. Click to read
Example: Excerpt-The Boneyard Rap and listen to this
entire poem!
This is the rhythm
of the boneyard rap: It's the boneyard rap
knuckle bones click and it's a scare.
and hand bones clap, Give your bones a shake-up
finger bones flick if you dare.
and thigh bones slap Rattle your teeth
when you're doing the rhythm and waggle your jaw
of the boneyard rap. and let's do the boneyard rap
Wooooooooo! once more.
By: Wes Magees

82. Alliteration (Music)

83. Alliteration (Music)
Repeated use of the same sound at the beginning of a
group of words.

84. Alliteration (Music)
Repeated use of the same sound at the beginning of a
group of words.
Examples:

85. Alliteration (Music)
Repeated use of the same sound at the beginning of a
group of words.
Examples:
The gruesome ghost gave a ghastly groan.

86. Alliteration (Music)
Repeated use of the same sound at the beginning of a
group of words.
Examples:
The gruesome ghost gave a ghastly groan.
She sells sea shells by the seashore.

87. Assonance (Music)

88. Assonance (Music)
Repeated use of the the same vowel sound in words that
are close together.

89. Assonance (Music)
Repeated use of the the same vowel sound in words that
are close together.
Examples:

90. Assonance (Music)
Repeated use of the the same vowel sound in words that
are close together.
Examples:
How now, brown cow?

91. Assonance (Music)
Repeated use of the the same vowel sound in words that
are close together.
Examples:
How now, brown cow?
West Beast East Beast by Dr. Seuss

92. Assonance (Music)
Repeated use of the the same vowel sound in words that
are close together.
Examples:
How now, brown cow?
West Beast East Beast by Dr. Seuss

93. Assonance (Music)
Repeated use of the the same vowel sound in words that
are close together.
Examples:
How now, brown cow?
West Beast East Beast by Dr. Seuss
Upon an island hard to reach,
The East Beast sits upon his beach.
Upon the west beach sits the West Beast.
Each beach beast thinks he’s the best beast.
Which beast is best?…Well, I thought at first
That the East was best and the West was
worst.
Then I looked again from the west to the east
And I liked the beast on the east beach least.

94. Consonance (Music)

95. Consonance (Music)
Repeated use of consonant sounds in words that are
close together.

96. Consonance (Music)
Repeated use of consonant sounds in words that are
close together.
Example: Betty Botter Bought Some Butter

97. Consonance (Music)
Repeated use of consonant sounds in words that are
close together.
Example: Betty Botter Bought Some Butter

98. Consonance (Music)
Repeated use of consonant sounds in words that are
close together.
Example: Betty Botter Bought Some Butter
Betty Botter bought some butter, So, she bought a bit of butter
But, she said, The butter's bitter; Better than her bitter butter,
If I put it in my batter And she put it in her batter
It will make my batter bitter. And the batter was not bitter.
But, a bit of better butter So, 'twas better Betty Botter
Will make my batter better. Bought a bit of better butter.

99. General Poetry Terms

100. General Poetry Terms
Stanza- One of the groups of lines into which a poem
or song is divided; a verse.

101. General Poetry Terms
Stanza- One of the groups of lines into which a poem
or song is divided; a verse.
Couplet- A pair of lines that rhyme and are about
the same length.

102. General Poetry Terms
Stanza- One of the groups of lines into which a poem
or song is divided; a verse.
Couplet- A pair of lines that rhyme and are about
the same length.
Example: Excerpt-Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
by Roald Dahl

103. General Poetry Terms
Stanza- One of the groups of lines into which a poem
or song is divided; a verse.
Couplet- A pair of lines that rhyme and are about
the same length.
Example: Excerpt-Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
by Roald Dahl
Poor Grandmamma was terrified,
"He's going to eat me up!" she cried.
And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite.

104. General Poetry Terms
Stanza- One of the groups of lines into which a poem
or song is divided; a verse.
Couplet- A pair of lines that rhyme and are about
the same length.
Example: Excerpt-Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
by Roald Dahl
Poor Grandmamma was terrified, Click to read
"He's going to eat me up!" she cried. and listen to this
And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite. entire poem!

105. References:
Children’s literature: Poetry for Children; Instructor:
Chi-Fen Emily Chen, Ph.D.;http://
www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/CLit/
poetry_language.htm
Giggle Poetry: http://www.gigglepoetry.com/

106. References (Continued)
Children’s PoetryArchive: http://
www.poetryarchive.org/
Kenn Nesbitt’s Poetry4kids.com: http://
www.poetry4kids.com/
The Miss Rumphius Effect:A Book Is; adapted
from a poem by Kathy Leeuwenburg; http://
missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2008/02/monday-

107. References (Continued)
Hey Diddle Diddle by Mother Goose;
www.mothergoose.com
West Beast East Beast from Oh Say Can You Say!
by Dr. Seuss;http://www.stevishabitat.com/ohsay.php
Betty Botter Bought Some Butter; The Land of
Nursery Rhymes;http://
www.landofnurseryrhymes.co.uk/