Poetic Devices
"It's a Comparison!"
This poetic device compares two things using the words "like" or "as".
What is a simile?
"Once Upon a Time…"
This genre often begins with “Once upon a time” and includes magical creatures, royalty, and faraway kingdoms.
What is fairy tale?
"Say It Again!"
This device is used when a word, phrase, or idea is repeated for emphasis.
What is repetition?
"Word Origins 101"
The study of where words come from and how their meanings change over time is called this.
What is etymology?
"It's Everywhere!"
This is the most commonly used letter in the English alphabet.
What is E?
"Sounds Like…"
This device uses repeated beginning consonant sounds, like in “Peter Piper picked a peck…”
What is alliteration?
"It Could Happen!"
This genre is made up, but it could happen in real life—no magic, no aliens, just everyday people and problems.
What is realistic fiction?
"What’s Going to Happen Next?"
This device gives a hint or clue about what will happen later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
"A Roman Reminder"
Many English words come from this ancient language spoken by the Romans.
What is Latin?
"One Word, Many Jobs"
This small word can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, and even an interjection: “run.” What kind of word is it?
What is a homonym (or flexible word class word)?
"That's Deep!"
When a poet gives human qualities to something non-human, like “the wind whispered,” they’re using this device.
What is personification?
"Whodunnit?"
This genre focuses on a crime or mystery that needs to be solved, often by a detective or curious character.
What is mystery?
"The Struggle is Real"
This is the term for a problem or challenge faced by a character, which drives the plot.
What is conflict?
"Ancient Gifts"
The English word "telephone" comes from an ancient culture's words meaning "far" and "sound." This is an example of what kind of root?
What is a Greek root?
"Old but Gold"
This one-letter word is one of the oldest in the English language and hasn’t changed in spelling or meaning for over 1,000 years.
What is "I"?
"Hidden Meanings"
This device is when one thing stands for something else—like a heart representing love.
What is symbolism?
"New Worlds, New Rules"
This genre features advanced technology, space travel, or futuristic settings—think aliens, robots, or time machines.
What is science fiction?
"All the Feels"
This is the feeling or emotional atmosphere a writer creates for the reader—often called the story’s vibe.
What is mood?
"A Northern Influence"
Words like “sky,” “egg,” and “knife” entered English from this group of seafaring invaders.
What is the Norse (or Vikings)?
"Unusual but Real"
This is the longest word in English without a vowel (not counting “y”). It refers to a ... pattern in poetry.
What is "rhythms"?
"Twist Your Tongue and Your Brain"
This poetic device creates a contradiction in terms, like “deafening silence” or “bittersweet.”
What is an oxymoron?
"Fact or Fiction?"
This genre tells the story of a real person’s life, written by someone else, and is based on true events.
What is a biography?
"That’s Ironic!"
This device occurs when the opposite of what’s expected happens, like a fire station burning down.
What is irony?
"True or False Friends?"
These are words in different languages that look similar but have different meanings—like “actual” in English and “actual” in Spanish.
What are false cognates?
What are Mr. Reece's 2 main hobbies?
(You must have both.)
Boardgaming and Photography