Show me your poetic skills.

Poetry uses language in many different ways. By noticing the techniques poets use with

language, it becomes easier to understand and talk about a poem. This week, consider

using some of these language techniques to emphasize certain ideas, themes or images.

Diction

Diction is the type of words poets choose to use in their poems. A poem that uses slang

expressions can be just as powerful as a poem that uses a lot of big words. And feel free to mix

up your diction in a poem. There is no reason why you have to use just one.

Formal Diction:

Words that appear a bit more elegant or extravagant. Often formal diction will contain

words that are polysyllabic (many syllables).

Neutral Diction:

Words that appear ordinary and that you hear everyday. Contractions are often used in

poetry that has neutral diction, as well as a simpler vocabulary.

Informal Diction:

Words and phrases that are slang expressions, or the colloquial – the language of

relaxed activities and friendly conversations.

Rhyme

A poem does not have to rhyme. However, rhyme can be an important part of poetry, and there

are many different types of rhyme.

Exact (perfect) rhymes:

Words that rhyme because both the concluding consonant and vowel sounds rhyme.

And while ye may, go

For having lost but one your

You may for ever

“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”

Robert Herrick

Example: “Then be not coy, but use your time;marry:prime,tarry”

Inexact (near) rhymes:

Words that rhyme because they have similar, not identical, sounds, like

bleak/break and

loud/bird

.

Example: “Between my finger and my thumb

The squat pen rests; sung as a

“Digging”

Seamus Heaney

gun.”

End rhymes:

Words at the ends of lines that rhyme, either exactly or inexactly.

Example: “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s

“Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”

--Adrienne Rich

hand”

Internal rhymes:

Words in the beginning or middle of a line that rhyme with each other, either exactly or

inexactly.

• “And I who gave Kate a blackened eyeible musical scale”

Did to its vivid changing colours

Make up an incred

“Whatever Else Poetry is Freedom”

--Irving Layton

Example: