Poetry differs from prose with its economy of language and emphasis upon sound, and rhythm to create effect. Fiction writers generally use more “space” to convey their message, while poets work on precise uses of language. The purpose of this lesson is to provide a practical (i.e. can be used upon the AP English Literature Exam) discussion of poetic qualities.

Working Definitions - Literary Devices Related to Poetry

There is a seemingly infinite amount of literary devices related to poetry. Some deal with the specific meter of specific lines, while others refer to the entire form of the poem. Others deal with accent patterns, placement of words, and rhyme patterns. Several of these lists are easily available online, and their knowledge will not be detrimental to AP English Literature. However, lists of terms are not essential for success upon the Exam, and even earning high scores upon the exam. More useful for our purposes are some simple working definitions of poetic conventions, and how they affect overall meaning, mood or attitudes.

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Final Thoughts

One of the keys to scoring well on the AP English Exam Poetry essay is to not only focus upon the meaning and attitude of the poetry, but also on what makes poetic language uniquely poetic. You will want to include not only references to this unique language, but also the thematic meaning that these elements create. Remember that poetry is a holistic art form and that the message the poet wants to convey is always linked to its overall form.

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