Class 12 Poetic Devices

Class 12 poetic devices consist of all the poems of class 12 flamingo book. Check out to learn all poetic devices used in the poems – my mother at sixty six, keeping quiet, a thing of beauty and a roadside stand.

Table of Contents

What is poetic device ?

A poetic device, also known as a literary or poetic technique, is a tool or technique that poets use to enhance the beauty and expressiveness of their writing. These devices contribute to the overall artistic and aesthetic qualities of a poem. There are numerous poetic devices, and they can be employed to create various effects, such as imagery, rhythm, sound patterns, and emotional impact. Here are some common poetic devices:

Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things to highlight a similarity.
Simile: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.”
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human entities or abstract concepts.
Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words in a line of poetry.
Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the end of words.
Rhyme: The similarity or identity of sound between the endings of words, particularly at the end of lines in poetry.
Meter: The rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse.
Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or verse.
Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
Irony: A figure of speech in which the intended meaning of a word or expression is opposite to its literal or usual meaning.
Imagery: Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating a mental picture for the reader.

My Mother at Sixty Six Poetic Devices

The poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das is a poignant and evocative poem that explores themes
of aging and the changing relationship between a daughter and her mother. The poem employs various
poetic devices to convey its emotions and themes. Here are some of the poetic devices used in the poem,
along with their meanings:

S.N.	Poetic Device	Examples
1.	Simile	1. Her face ashen like that of a corpse 2. As a late winter moon
2.	Imagery	Young children spilling…….their homes.
3.	Personification	Trees sprinting
4.	Repetition	Smile and smile and smile …..
5.	Alliteration	Smile and smile and smile
6.	Metaphor	Young children spilling

Keeping Quiet Poetic Devices

“Keeping Quiet” is a poem by Pablo Neruda, a famous Chilean poet. In the poem, Neruda uses different tools to make his ideas more interesting and expressive.There are following poetic devices used in this poem :

S.N.	Poetic Devices	Examples
1.	Anaphora	1. We will 2. Let’s
2.	Personification	1. Face of the earth 2. The Earth can’t teach us
3.	Repetition	1. Without rushes 2. Without engines 3. War with gas 4. War with fire
4.	Pun	Arms
5.	Symbolism	1. Fisherman 2. Whales 3. The man gather salt 4. Brothers 5. Now we will count …………………….all keep still.
6.	Antithesis	1. Cold sea 2. Everything seems dead and later proves to be alive 3. Now we will count ………………………all keep still
7.	Metaphor	1. Clean clothes 2. Shade
8.	Euphemism	No truck with death
9.	Paradox / Irony	Victory with no survivor
10.	Synecdoche	1.Twelve 2. Fisherman 3. Whales 4.Brothers

A Thing of Beauty Poetic Devices

The poem “A Thing of Beauty” by John Keats is a really good example of Romantic poetry. In this poem, the writer uses different tricks with words to share his ideas and feelings. Let’s talk about some of these word tricks and what they mean:

S.N.	Poetic Devices	Examples
1.	Metaphor	1. Bower 2. Dreams 3. Morrow 4. Pall 5. Flowery Band 6. Endless fountain of immortal drink 7. Gloomy days 8. O’er – darkened ways 9. Immortal drink 10. Shady boon
2.	Imagery	1. A Flowery band ………the earth 2. Such the sun …………. grandeur of the dooms 3. An endless ……… immortal drink
3.	Transferred Epithet	1. Gloomy days 2. Immortal Drink
4.	Symbolism	Simple sheep
5.	Allusion	1. Despondence 2. Inhuman dearth of noble nature
6.	Oxymoron	Mighty dead
7.	Antithesis	Old and Young
8.	Hyperbole	1. An endless fountain of immortal drink 2. Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink
9.	Enjambment	Cooling covert make ‘Gainst the hot season
10.	Alliteration	1. Cooling covert 2. Simple Sheep 3. Sprouting shady
11.	Assonance	Loveliness increases
12.	Rhyme Scheme	aabbc

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Poetic Devices

“Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” is a poem by Adrienne Rich. It talks about how women feel trapped and want to be free, using Aunt Jennifer’s needlework as a way to show this. The poem uses different tricks with words to tell its story. Let’s talk about some of these word tricks and what they mean:

S.N.	Poetic Devices	Examples
1.	Metaphor	Bright Topaz
2.	Imagery	1. World of Green 2. Men beneath the tree 3. Wedding band sits heavily
3.	Personification	Chivalric Tiger
4.	Transferred Epithet	Terrified hand
5.	Pun	Ringed with ordeals she was mastered
6.	Hyperbole	Massive Weight
7.	Alliteration	Finger fluttering
8.	Synecdoche	Terrified hand
9.	Symbol / Symbolism	1. Uncle 2. Aunt 3. Tigers 4. Wedding Band 5. Aunt Jennifer 6. Tigers 7. Aunt Jennifer’s hand 8. Denizens of a world of green 9. Ringed with ordeals
10.	Rhyme Scheme	aabb

A Roadside Stand Poetic Devices

“A Roadside Stand” is a poem by Robert Frost. It is important to note that poetic devices can be subjective,
and different interpretations may identify different devices. Here are some common poetic devices used in
this poem:

S.N.	Poetic Devices	Examples
1.	Metaphor	1. Trusting sorrow 2. Small bird’s nest
2.	Oxymoron	Greedy good-doers
3.	Personification	Thoughtful air
4.	Transferred Epithet	1. Polished traffic 2. Selfish cars
5.	Alliteration	Beneficent beasts of prey
6.	Simile	Like old rose petals
7.	Assonance	Right by the side of the road
8.	Symbolism	Roadside stand
9.	Metonymy	Summer made her light escape.
10.	Enjambment	The world has not yet learned /

What is poetic device ?