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A poem is a collection of spoken or written words that expresses ideas or emotions in a powerfully vivid and imaginative style. A poem is comprised of a particular rhythmic and metrical pattern. In fact, it is a literary technique that is different from prose or ordinary speech, as it is either in metrical pattern or in free verse. Writers or poets express their emotions through this medium more easily, as they face difficulty when expressing through some other medium. It serves the purpose of a light to take the readers towards the right path. Also, sometimes it teaches them a moral lesson through sugarcoated language.
POETIC DEVICE of POEM COMPOSITION
Poetic devices are a form of literary device used in poetry. A poem is created out of poetic devices composite of: structural, grammatical, rhythmic, metrical, verbal and visual elements. They are essentially tools that a poet uses to create rhythm, enhance a poem's meaning, or intensify a mood or feeling. The following are the basic device of poem composition:
Alliteration: A string of three or four instances of the same consonant sound with no more than one intervening, non alliterative onset consonant sound. Alliteration is used as a mnemonic device to evoke feelings such as fear and suspense in poetry.
Assonance: Repeated vowel sounds in words placed near each other, usually on the same or adjacent lines. These vowel sounds are usually accented or stressed to give musical quality to the poem. By creating an internal rhyme, this also enhances the pleasure of reading the poem.
Consonance: Repeated consonant sounds at the ending of words near each other, usually on the same or adjacent lines . These should be in sounds that are accented, or stressed, rather than in a vowel.
Euphony: A series of musically pleasant sounds that give the poem a melodious quality, conveying a sense of harmony to the reader.
Onomatopoeia: It is used in poetry to create aural effects that mimic the visual image described. A combination of words may be used to create an onomatopoetic effect. It is, however, not imperative to use words that are onomatopoetic in and of themselves.
Rhythm: Poetic rhythm is the flow of words within each meter and stanza to produce a rhythmic effect while emphasising specific parts of the poem.
Repetition: Repetition often uses word associations to express ideas and emotions in an indirect manner, putting emphasis on a point, confirming an idea, or describing a notion.
Rhyme: Rhyme utilises repeating patterns to bring out rhythm or musicality in poems. It is a repetition of similar sounds occurring in lines in a poem which gives the poem a symmetric quality.
Allusion: A brief reference to a person, character, historical event, work of art, and Biblical or mythological situation.
Metaphor: Metaphors are used in poetry to explain and elucidate emotions, feelings, relationships, and other elements that are better described using evocative language. Poets also use metaphor as a way of explaining or referring to something in a brief but effective way.
Symbol: An object, event, animal, or person to which we have attached meaning and significance.
Symbolism in poetry is using an object or action that suggests something beyond its literal meaning. Symbolism means to imbue objects with a certain meaning that is different from their original meaning or function. It is a representative of other aspects, concepts or traits than those visible in literal translation. Other literary devices, such as metaphor, allegory and allusion, aid in the development of symbolism.
Hyperbole: An outrageous exaggeration used for effect. Example: He weighs a ton.
Irony: A contradictory statement or situation used to expose a reality contrary to what appears to be true.
Imagery: Not simply a visual representation, in poetry it sustains or comprises figures of speech such as the following: " My heart opens like a cactus flower ".
Oxymoron: A combination of two words that appear to contradict each other.
Paradox: A statement in which a contradiction may reveal an unexpected truth.
Personification: Attributing human characteristics to an inanimate object, animal, or abstract idea. Example : The days crept by slowly, sorrowfully.
Simile: A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g. as brave as a lion ).