Poetic Devices
What is a simile? Give an example.
A comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. Uses like or as.
What is a stanza?
Group of lines in a poem. A paragraph in a poem.
Who wrote "My Country"?
Dorothea Mackellar
What is a Haiku, and which rules does it follow?
Japanese form of poetry and has to be 5-7-5 syllables.
What is the explicit meaning of a poem?
Does not require analysis. Obvious meaning.
What is personification? Give an example.
Non-human objects, animals or plants are given human attributes.
What is rhyme scheme? Explain and give an example.
Rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming words at the end of lines in a poem
What is the poem's main theme?
The poet's love for her country (Australia).
What is a blackout poetry?
A type of poetry that takes words from an existing text and rearranges them into a new poem.
What is the implicit meaning of a poem?
What is alliteration?
Alliteration is when two or more words that start with the same sound are used repeatedly in a phrase or a sentence.
What is an irregular rhyme scheme?
A rhyme scheme with no set pattern.
What poetic device is used in "I love a sunburnt country"
Personification
How are songs similar to poetry?
Both use poetic devices, can tell stories, evoke emotions in the audience and use rhythm and rhyme.
What is the implicit meaning of "My Country"?
The love for Australia despite its harsh conditions.
What is a metaphor? Give an example.
A thing that represents something or is symbolic of something else. A hidden comparison.
How is rhythm in a poem created?
It is created by using stressed and unstressed syllables.
What is the tone of "My Country", other than positive?
Proud, passionate, admiring.
What is a Cinquain? Describe the structure.
A poem that follows this structure:
Line 1: One word
Line 2: Two words
Line 3: Three words
Line 4: Four words
Line 5: One word
What is tone in a poem?
The poet's/ speaker's attitute towards the topic of the poem.
What is repetition, and why do poets use it?
Poets use repetition in order to emphasise something they find important.
What is the difference between end rhyme and internal rhyme?
End rhyme happens at the end of lines; internal rhyme happens within a line.
What contrast does Mackellar make between England and Australia? (Stanza 1 compared with the other stanzas)
She describes England as tame, tidy and as if everything is in order and Australia as wild and beautiful.
What is an acrostic poem, and how is it structured?
The first letter of the word spells out another word or message.
D ry
A ustralia
R ain
W et
I nteresting
N orthern Terriroty
How does the speaker of a poem affect its meaning?
The speaker’s perspective shapes the way we interpret the poem.