10 Poetic Devices with Examples and Definition

In literature, a poetic device is a technique that creates a specific effect in a poem. There are many different poetic devices, and they can be used in different ways to create different effects. In this blog post, we will explore 10 different poetic devices, with their definitions & examples.

S.No.Poetic DeviceDefinitionExamples
1Similea literary device used for comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind using “as” or “like”Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun?
2Metaphora literary device that pulls comparisons between two unrelated ideasthe nectar of knowledge
3Personificationthe attribution of human characteristics to non-human things.A host, of golden daffodils; ……..dancing in the breeze.
4Alliterationthe occurrence of the same sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected wordsClaire, close your cluttered closet
5Hyperboleit is an exaggerated statementTen thousand I saw at a glance
6Enjambmentcontinuation of sentences to more than 1 lineI wonder, by my troth, what thou and I / Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then?
7Transferred EpithetA transferred epithet is when an adjective is applied to a noun to make it describe a person or thing.“happy marriage”
8Onomatopoeiathe formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named the “tick-tock” of a clock
9Repetitionthe repetition of a word, phrase or sentence for poetic effectAnd miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
10Puna play on wordsWhen I consider how my light is spent

In conclusion, poetic devices can be both abstract and complex, as well as subtle and obvious.