Poetic Devices Worksheet 1 for identifying literary techniques in poetry.

Here are the answers and explanations for the poetic devices worksheet.

1. "A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings / And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings."

Which techniques are being used?
Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Consonance.

How do you figure?
* Alliteration: Look at the phrase "piano... pressing... poised." The 'p' sound is repeated at the start of these words close together.
* Onomatopoeia: The word "boom" describes a loud sound made by the piano. It sounds like what it means.
* Consonance: Notice the repetition of the 's' sound in "sitting," "strings," "small," "smiles," and "sings." This creates a soft, hissing sound throughout the lines.

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2. "Click-clack, click-clack, the hoofs went past, / Who takes the dead coach travels fast,"

Which techniques are being used?
Onomatopoeia, Repetition, Rhyme.

How do you figure?
* Onomatopoeia: "Click-clack" mimics the actual sound of horse hooves hitting the ground.
* Repetition: The phrase "click-clack" is said twice in a row to emphasize the steady beat of the horses.
* Rhyme: The words at the end of the lines, "past" and "fast," rhyme with each other.

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3. "And I begged the little leaves to lean / Low and together for a safe screen;"

Which techniques are being used?
Alliteration, Personification (Note: While Personification isn't on your list, Alliteration is the strongest one here), Consonance.

How do you figure?
* Alliteration: There is a strong repetition of the 'l' sound in "little leaves... lean Low." There is also an 's' sound in "safe screen."
* Consonance: The 'g' sound repeats in "begged" and "screen" (soft g), and the 'n' sound ends "lean," "and," and "screen."
* *(Note: Asking leaves to "lean" and create a "screen" gives them human abilities, which is called Personification, but since it's not on your answer key list, stick with Alliteration and Consonance).*

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4. "Big-voiced lassies made their banjos bang,"

Which techniques are being used?
Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Consonance.

How do you figure?
* Alliteration: The 'b' sound is repeated clearly in "Big... banjos bang." Also, the 'l' sound in "lassies."
* Onomatopoeia: The word "bang" describes the loud noise the instruments make.
* Consonance: The 's' sound appears in "lassies" and the 'ng' sound ends both "banjos" and "bang."

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5. "Lord, confound my surly sister, / Blight her brow with blotch and blister, / Cramp her larynx, lung, and liver, / In her guts a galling give her."

Which techniques are being used?
Alliteration, Consonance, Rhyme.

How do you figure?
* Alliteration: This poem is full of it! Line 2 uses the 'b' sound ("Blight... brow... blotch... blister"). Line 3 uses the 'l' sound ("larynx, lung, and liver"). Line 4 uses the 'g' sound ("guts... galling... give").
* Consonance: The harsh consonant sounds (like b, l, g, and s) are repeated constantly to make the poem sound angry or unpleasant.
* Rhyme: The ends of the lines rhyme: "sister" rhymes with "blister," and "liver" rhymes with "give her."