Identifying Poetic Devices

Directions: Write which technique is being used on the line.  There may be more than one correct answer; you 

may write more than one answer.  Then, explain how you know your answer.  Slashes represent line breaks.   

Answers: alliteration, rhyme, onomatopoeia, idiom, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification. 

Example 1. This falling spray of snow-flakes is / a handful of dead Februaries 

What technique is being used? Personification and Alliteration 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: 

  Februaries can’t die like humans can; therefore it is an example of personification.  Also, many words 

begin with the letter “F” or “S”, so it also has alliteration.   

2. The moon is faithful, although blind 

What technique is being used? Personification.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: The moon can't be faithful, and the moon can't be blind.

  

                                 
3. children sleeping softly in their bedroom bunks 

What technique is being used? Alliteration.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Many words begin with "S" or "B".

  

                                 
4. Time is a green orchard. 

What technique is being used? Metaphor.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Time isn't really a green orchard

  

                                 
5. At dusk there’s a thin haze like cigarette smoke / ribbons 

What technique is being used? Metaphor 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because Its saying that a thin haze is LIKE cigarette smoke/ribbons

  

                                 
6. They chained themselves to subways for the endless ride from Battery Park to the Bronx 

What technique is being used?  Hyperbole

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because no one would actually chain themselves to a subway.

7. A final word: before you start / The convulsions of your art, 

What technique is being used? Personification

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because it is talking about art.

  

 8. That tree said / I don't like that white car under me, / or its gasoline smell 

What technique is being used?  personification

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because trees can't smell or talk.

  

 9. Life is a bowl of cherries 

What technique is being used? Metaphor.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Life isn't really a bowl of cherries.

  

                                 
10. All that I hear / Is the slishity-slosh of the rain. 

What technique is being used? Onomatopoeia.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out:  Because that's the sound the rain makes.

  

                                 
11. My sisters tears that sing upon my head 

What technique is being used? Personification.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because tears don't really sing.

  

                                 
12. I lost my freedom for free room and board / like a monkey in a zoo 

What technique is being used? Simile _ 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out:  Because the person is comparing himself to a monkey in a zoo.

  

                                 
13. Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. / I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size 

What technique is being used?Simile

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because she is comparing herself to a model.

  

                                 
14. Veins collapse, / opening like the / fists of sleeping / Children. 

What technique is being used? Metaphor

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out:  Because it is comparing opening veins to fists of sleeping children.

  

                                 

15. The sunshine threw his hat away, 

What technique is being used? Personification.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out:  Because the sunshine can't really throw the guys hat away.

  

                                 
16.  This test will be a piece of cake. 

What technique is being used?  Hyperbole

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because the text won't literatly be a piece of cake.

  

                                 
17.  As the bird chirps the / frog croaks 

What technique is being used? Onomatopoeia 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because it says the sound a bird makes and the sound a frog makes.

  

                                 
18.  I could stare into your eyes as / a thousand years come and go 

What technique is being used? Hyperbole

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because you can't really stare into some ones eyes for that long.

  

                                 
19.  Sing me no sad songs cause my hearts / been broken 

What technique is being used? Hyperbole

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because your heart can't actually be broken

  

                                 
20. But he grew old / This knight so bold- 

What technique is being used? Rhyme.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out:  Because old and bold rhyme.

  

                                 
21.  His new car cost him an arm and a leg. 

What technique is being used? Hyperbole.

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because it didn't literatly cost him an arm and a leg.

  

                                 
22. I laid me down upon a bank, / Where Love lay sleeping; 

What technique is being used? Alliteration

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because the letter L is used a lot.

  

                                 
23. For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly. 

What technique is being used? Simile

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because its comparing dying dreams to a bird with a broken wing.

  

                                 
24. The pans clattered and banged / the tapping of the wooden spoon / tap, tap, tap 

What technique is being used? Onomatopoeia 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because it is describing the the taping sound of the spoon.

  


25. But I hung on like death: / Such waltzing was not easy. 

What technique is being used? 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: 

  

                                 
26.  That’ll be the day when pigs fly. 

What technique is being used? Metaphor. 

Alliteration, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Idiom, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, or Personification 

Explain how you figured it out: Because pigs can't and will never fly.