5.2 Poetic devices and figurative language

Poetic devices and figurative language are powerful tools for songwriters. They transform ordinary words into vivid imagery, evoking emotions and creating memorable lyrics. These techniques add depth and richness to songs, helping artists paint pictures with words.

From metaphors to alliteration, these devices bring lyrics to life. They engage listeners' senses, spark imagination, and convey complex ideas in creative ways. Understanding these tools helps songwriters craft more impactful and resonant lyrics that stick with audiences.

Figurative Language

Metaphorical Language

Top images from around the web for Metaphorical Language

• 

  Ms. Henderson's English Wiki - AP Glossary View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Author's Style Notes by Michele McCaughtry | Teachers Pay Teachers View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Figures of Speech: Schemes and Tropes - Excellence in Literature by Janice CampbellExcellence in ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Ms. Henderson's English Wiki - AP Glossary View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Author's Style Notes by Michele McCaughtry | Teachers Pay Teachers View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Metaphorical Language

• 

  Ms. Henderson's English Wiki - AP Glossary View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Author's Style Notes by Michele McCaughtry | Teachers Pay Teachers View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Figures of Speech: Schemes and Tropes - Excellence in Literature by Janice CampbellExcellence in ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Ms. Henderson's English Wiki - AP Glossary View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Author's Style Notes by Michele McCaughtry | Teachers Pay Teachers View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Metaphor compares two unlike things by stating one thing is another, drawing a direct comparison between them without using "like" or "as" (life is a rollercoaster)
• Simile compares two unlike things using "like" or "as" to draw the comparison and highlight a shared quality (as brave as a lion)
• Personification gives human characteristics, emotions or actions to non-human things, ideas or animals (the wind whispered through the trees)
• Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect, often making the statement literally impossible (I've told you a million times)

Symbolic and Paradoxical Language

• Symbolism uses symbols to represent ideas or qualities, with the symbols carrying meanings beyond their literal sense (a dove symbolizes peace)
• Oxymoron combines two contradictory terms for emphasis or effect (jumbo shrimp, deafening silence)
• Paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true, used to engage readers and encourage reflection (I know one thing, that I know nothing)

Sound Devices

Repetition of Sounds

• Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words (Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers)
• Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words (light, fire, bind)
• Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within and at the ends of words (pitter patter, blank and think)

Onomatopoeia

• Onomatopoeia uses words that phonetically imitate or suggest the sound they describe (buzz, hiss, gurgle)
• Onomatopoeia creates a multi-sensory reading experience by evoking the actual sound of what is being described (the bees buzzed busily around their hive)

Sensory Language

Imagery

• Imagery uses vivid, descriptive language to appeal to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)
• Imagery helps readers visualize and imagine with sensory details (the warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie melted in my mouth)
• Imagery creates a fuller, richer reading experience by painting a vivid mental picture and immersing the reader in the scene (the pungent smell of garlic filled the cramped kitchen)