MYP English Lang & Lit Poetic Form and Expressive Techniques Key Definitions

Poetry that follows the patterns and rhythms of natural speech rather than traditional metre or regular rhyme.

Imagery is the use of descriptive language to create clear pictures or sensations in the reader’s mind.

Poetic form refers to the structured shape and organisation of a poem, including how it is arranged on the page and the rules that govern its construction.

Sound devices are language choices that create meaning through what a poem (or other text) sounds like when read aloud. They help a writer shape mood, pace, emphasis, and imagery, and they often make a line more memorable. In literary analysis, you do two key things:

Symbolism is when an object, image, colour, or action represents a bigger idea.