Poetic Devices

SharkNotes
Part 1: The Basics of Poetics
Poetic Devices
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What is a Poetic Device?
A poetic device is a usage of words and phrases to achieve a certain effect. These effects can range from modification of rhyme and rhythm to some witty wordplay. Poetic devices are powerful add-ons that can be implemented in a poem. Poetic devices are also a must for people writing free verse. But don't think poetic devices are restricted to poetry. It can also be implemented in prose as well. In fact, prose poetry is prose that utilizes poetic devices.

Subcategories
There are two main subcategories of poetic devices. These include:

schemes
Structural figure-of-speech that deals with word placement, letter order, syntax, and sound.
Ex.)
parallelism
anadiplosis
asyndeton
onomatopoeia
gradatio
etc.

tropes
Lexical figures-of-speech that deal with twists in and manipulation of the meanings of words.
Ex.)
simile
synecdoche
metonymy
personification
litotes
etc.

Poetic Devices
abusio
A type of catachresis which combines metaphors to create a very strange composite metaphor. Often frowned upon for being a literary excuse for bad writing. However, it is a very inventive utilization of literary metaphor.
Ex.)
To the graduating class of 2009,
I have one piece of wisdom worth sharing:
No matter what anyone tells you,
Life is a bowl of rotten cherries
Which spoiled all at once from one tainted fruit.
It was called love
And, at times, you'll be forced to eat from that bowl
Or else prepare to perish...slowly.
(The abusio was formed from the combination of the metaphors "Life is a bowl of cherries" and "One rotten apple spoils the bunch" with a few modifications.)

adynation
The use of extreme comparisons to express impossibility. The stronger form of hyperbole.
Ex.)
This plan won't work
I'll broker world peace
Before you win the lottery

alliteration
The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of successive words.
Ex.)
The tree took the sun out of my sight;
I saw the shade grow farther
(tree and took, and sun and sight are alliteration)

alliosis
Presenting alternatives to a certain action, object, or idea. This device can lead to either a faulty correlation between two opposites or an either/or situation that doesn't work, so be careful.
Ex.)
There's no need for violence:
You could try diplomacy
Or maybe avoidance
Just try not to claim justice with harmful action

allusion
A reference, explicit or implicit, to something in previous literature or history.
Ex.)
Like young Icarus he overshot his intent
Crashed back down to earth with such violence
The cruelty of reality strikes again

ambiguity
A statement with two or more meanings that seem to exclude one another in the context. A statement with multiple meanings. There are two types: lexical ambiguity and structural ambiguity.
lexical ambiguity
Words with double meanings. Words with unrelated antonyms.
Ex.)
clear
(equivalent meanings: transparent, to empty)
(antonyms: opaque, to fill)
structural ambiguity
A phrase or sentence with more than one underlying structure. A phrase that can have multiple interpretations.
Ex.)
A hot sauce pot
(A [hot sauce] pot)
(A hot [sauce pot])

anachronism
The misplacement of a person, thing, event, etc. in a time period in which it could not exist.
Ex.)
Popcorn cooking in the microwave
I watch it as the radio plays
My father never misses a fireside chat
(Fireside chats took place during the Great Depression in the 1920s. The microwave wasn't invented until the 1950s)

anacoenosis
When the speaker speaks directly to the audience in an attempt to receive feedback on some issue.
Ex.)
I often wondered why certain people think they are superior
For something so materialistic
As one's own possessions.
However, have you ever run into the ones
With superiority complexes the size of Miami
For one reason: ideology.
How did it feel when they degraded you for not sharing their beliefs
Or lack thereof?
How did it feel to be ostracized and degraded before your very eyes
And feel so inferior?
Care to tell me of the experience?

anacoluthon
The twisting of a phrase to the point where two of the parts of the phrase are complete opposites. Basically, the syntax of said phrase is broken up, rendering both parts nearly incompatible. Breaking off one part of a phrase and adding in another different part. Anacoluthon in excess could be viewed as bad writing.
Ex.)
The speech?
The dean's speech was amazing
She was so eloquent
So well-spoken.
I never knew anyone could be so...long winded
She would drag on and drag on about pointless anecdotes
Making some sort of point that I didn't seem to understand.
I was glad to finally be graduating
And it wasn't until they slipped that diploma in my hand
That I stopped regretting it.

anadiplosis
Repeating the last word of a phrase at the beginning of the next phrase.
Ex.)
There are many who love life
Life is a gift that is priceless
For those who cherish life
Relish in its experience

anaphora
The repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses or lines.
Ex.)
We ran to see the parade
We ran to see the floats pass
We ran to see the float crash
We ran to see the devastation

antanaclasis
The usage of a single word or phrase multiple times, all of which have different meanings in context. Antanaclasis is a form of pun.
Ex.)
There is one unique trip I like to take:
I go to the nearest street corner,
Tie a thin clear thread to a lamp post,
Stretch it to the corner and hide it away,
And wait...
Let's just say I like sending people on a "unique trip" of their own.
(the phrase "unique trip" takes on two meanings in this piece: a vacation and a prank of tripping someone with string)

anthimeria
When one part of speech is used in place of another. Like when a noun is used in place of a verb.
Ex.)
Be sure to shelf those boxes and take inventory
We must stock with precision
Tomorrow is the day
The day all clerks dread:
Black Friday
(the noun "shelf" is being used as a verb)

antimetabole (epanados)
Repeating a phrase by reversing the order of the words. Often done in succession.
Ex.)
You should live by the phrase
Never say you can't!"
Try not to live by
"Can't you say never?"
Know that quitters lose and losers quit

antithesis
A use of words or phrases that have contrasting meanings in order to create a balanced effect. The contrast can either be of opposites or of degrees (like one larger than the other).
Ex.)
To those who are dying:
The ones who fight for life in hopes of victory
Often keep it
The ones who let go of life in defeat
Often lose it

antonomasia
Substituting a proper noun for another noun that shares similar qualities and vice versa. Basically, calling something by a proper name that is not its own or you use a phrase to refer to someone or something with a proper name.
Ex.)
He was an angry, ambitious, cruel young leader
With thousands at his beckon
They referred to him a Fuhrer
And willfully submitted
To be part of his personal Slaughterhouse
Where death was dealt out en masse
("angry, ambitious, cruel young leader" is meant to refer to Hitler and "Slaughterhouse" refers to the concentration camps)

apophasis
A refusal to talk about something but stating it directly in this denial.
Ex.)
I'm not going to talk about my father's shortcomings
How he beat his wife
How he neglected his children
How he slept with multiple women
His extensive criminal record
No, instead I wish to talk about my father's business success.

aporia
Talking about the inability to talk about a certain subject by explicitly stating that said subject cannot be discussed.
Ex.)
I cannot talk about the horrors of prison camp
Words betray me, stealing my very ability
There are none amongst those words who could describe said horrors
None who had the power and impact to do so

aposiopesis
Cutting a statement short as if unable to continue. It is not necessary to explicitly state that the speaker is unable to continue, but that is a matter of choice.
Ex.)
I'm recording this for you as a final warning
I have demanded my money
And I have given you many a chance
You won't need to pay in advance
On my payment plan-oh, my pizza is here
So, what will that be, eight do-
(One loud bang, the sound of footsteps slowly fading away)

apostrophe
When the narrator addresses a person or thing that cannot answer back.
Ex.)
My dear, why did you leave?
Left me here to breathe
The air of loneliness

archaism
A word or phrase that is outdated in use but can be used for artistic purposes. This one is extremely dangerous as it is abused immensely.
Ex.)
The way he dressed reflected his commitment
For days he toiled to learn the game
The way he spoke reflected his zeal
"For sooth, my love, for I doth cometh.
I lead my steed to thy spire of entrapment."
After hearing his speak in his new dialect
I knew our weekend visits would end.

assonance
The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds.
Ex.)
Take a rake and gather the leaves
This yard is quite the mess
(take and rake are the assonance with the long "a" sound)

asteismus
A pun in which one speaker uses a word in one context and another speaker uses the same word in a different context.
Ex.)
Doctor:
I didn't want to say it like this
But I feel I must.
You have cancer.
Lymphoma, to be exact.
There are treatments, but...
Jude:
The only cancer is the one on my wallet
Draining me of every penny I have.
My cancer is called "Fairview Hospital Accounting Office"
(notice that the meaning of cancer has been changed from "a debilitating disease" to "a fast-spreading problem")

asyndeton
The omission of conjunctions for the purpose of speeding up statements.
Ex.)
The office was busy that day.
I finished the morning paper.
I punched in.
I typed a memo.
I punched out.
I quit.
I had a new job to start next week.

bathos
The prioritizing of the least important in a place where the most important is expected. Often used for comedic purposes.
Ex.)
We have all done wrong at some point
No human is perfect
We have all lied
We have all cheated
We have all stolen
We have all hurt others
We have all parked in handicap parkings without a placard
We are all susceptible to wrongdoings

bridging title
When a title is treated as the first line of a poem though it is not shown as a beginning line.
Ex.)
A New Form of Genocide?
Not terribly new
It's been around for awhile
Don't think it just apply to humans
Any attempt to wipe out life
Life that shares its looks with others
They have the right to live
We have no right to say they can't
("A New Form of Genocide?" is the bridging title)

caesura
A pause or break in a line of verse, indicated by natural speech patterns rather than due to specific metrical patterns.
Ex.)
My love...you surely
Could not have possibly
Cheated on me...
Did you?

catachresis
A figure-of-speech that combines such figures-of-speech as hyperbole (exaggeration), anthimeria (using one part of speech in place of another), synæsthesia (impossible combination of two senses), metonymy (substituting a collective whole for its part), synecdoche (substitution of a part for the collective whole), etc. for a composite figure-of-speech that is completely physically impossible. Also, the stacking of one impossibility on another impossibility for the same effect: extreme impossibility. Sometimes catachresis is referred to as a type of "implied metaphor," meaning the comparison is similar to a metaphor, but it's not stated directly (as in the tenor, or subject of the metaphor, is implied).
Ex.)
Her glare could set a man on fire
She was angry beyond belief
Her words were boiling water in his ears
As she could not contain herself in grief
Her husband had murdered her marriage
With another woman!
Revenge was to be her artificial sweetener
She was fully prepared to barbecue his bank account
And feast on his court-ordered shame

chiasmus
A specific rearranging of word order in which the words keep a certain order in one clause, and invert that order in the second clause. Such inversion is often illustrated with either an X pattern to show how the words change order or the letter pattern abba to show that the second part is an inversion of the first. Similar to parallelism and antimetabole.
Ex.)
He cooks his own food for breakfast
For lunch, he packs a premade meal
For dinner, he spares no expense
And treats himself to restaurant veal
(Notice the inversion of lines 1 and 2. If it were parallelism, line 2 would be written "He packs a premade meal for lunch.")

circumlocution (periphrasis)
The usage of many words to describe an idea that can be summed up in fewer words. Circumlocution has an effect similar to a euphemism, but with too much, it can seem like wordiness.
Ex.)
I find that when working with dough it is necessary,
No, paramount,
To add a thin layer of flour to the area where you wish to work the dough
As well as the utensil you will use to roll it out.
If not, you're in for a sticky culinary mess
One you could've easily avoided through careful planning.
(You could have easily said "Be sure to flour your surface and rolling pin before rolling out dough; it tends to stick to anything not properly floured", but then that wouldn't be circumlocution)

climax (auxesis, crescendo)
Arranging words in order of increasing importance or degree.
Ex.)
What would we need to win a battle?
A good gun?
A soldier?
A battalion?
A tank?
A bomb?
How about the unbreakable spirit and determination of the trained soldier?

consonance
The repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds.
Ex.)
The credit card is dedicated to my wife
With whom I wed in deepest debt
(credit, dedicate, deepest, and debt are the consonance with the "d" sound)

diacope (epizeuxis)
An uninterrupted repetition where there are very few to no words separating the repeated words.
Ex.)
Run, run, run
Shout it out
There's danger on our tail!
No doubt
Our deaths will come if we fail!
So run, run
All the heroes die young!

dunadh
Ending the poem the same way it began using the first syllable, word, phrase, or line. Most common in Irish/Gaelic poetry.
Ex.)
Nobody needs to know this
I have a secret
And I can only trust you
.
.
.
I wish I could change the past
But I am cursed with this burden
Nobody needs to know this

dysphemism
A euphemism that has itself become a negative word and is in need of a new euphemism.
Ex.)
I remember Billy very well
I remember he was a midget
When I told his story, I was told
The word "dwarf" was more polite.
Now when I tell the story
"Dwarf" is too taboo
So then I was told "little person"
Would have to do.
I relayed all this to Billy.
He hated labels
And now, he hates them more.
("dwarf" is a dysphemism as it was a euphemism for "midget" but has now become an impolite word and in need of the new euphemism "little people")

ellipsis
Omitting a word that was stated earlier by implying its correct grammatical usage without explicitly using it.
Ex.)
There were seventeen boxes packed for the food drive down the street
There were only eight for the food drive downtown
The greatest folly here
Was scheduling two food drives on the same week
("There were only eight (boxes) (packed) for the food drive downtown" is the ellipsis)

elliptical construction
The intentional omission of a few words in a phrase because they are either too obvious or can be understood through context.
Ex.)
He is a much more skilled guitarist than I
I can't imagine how long it took
To gain that kind of skill must take years
Years of practice and devotion
It surely did pay off
("He is a much more skilled guitarist than I (am)" is the complete phrase without the elliptical construction.)

end-stopped lines
Lines or that end with punctuation.
Ex.)
Is there a doctor in the house?
I have no idea how to save this man's life.
He's dying.
Is anyone listening?
Or am I just talking to myself...

enjambment
Lines or stanzas that flow together without any use of punctuation.
Ex.)
No need to worry
I'll be leaving soon
All the signs were there
And I've already seen them
This marriage will not work
Let's not prolong the inevitable

epanalepsis
Repeating a word at the beginning as well as at the end of a line.
Ex.)
Fear of death is the strongest of fear
All people have it
None can escape it
Though some have overcome it

epistrophe (epiphora)
The repetition of the same word or group of words at the end of successive clauses or lines.
Ex.)
A glass of chardonnay
And a robust tuna steak
Pairing fish with red wine?
I knew something was fishy...
Give it away with chardonnay
The perfume of the chardonnay
Could not mask the stink of your intent
Drenched in arsenic

epithet
The use of an adjective that is usually used to describe living beings to denote specific characteristics of a place, thing, or idea.
Ex.)
The rain was quite pugnacious
The way it slapped against the garage was vicious
I could never imagine that water
Small drops
Could be so vindictive

equivoque
The usage of a single phrase or word with different meanings in the same context. Basically, a pun using an ambiguous word or phrase.
Ex.)
"Merle just asked me to let him see my pussy!
I sure gave him a piece of my mind."
Jodi shook in her anger
Her inner feminist charging forth with pride
"But Jodi," I couldn't help but interject,
"Merle's a veterinarian."

erotema
When the author, speaker, or character asks the reader a rhetorical question. This method can be used to provoke thought about the subject or the piece.
Ex.)
Philosophy has always been confusing
Just the thought processes...
The base question may be "Why?"
But my question is "How?"
How did people come up with this?
How did countless answers come from one question?
How do we know which is the truth?

euphemism
A word or phrase that is used in substitution of a more offensive word or phrase in order to either censor a piece of work, suggest sarcasm, or create humor. They tend to be set off with quotation marks and are referred to in speech with what are called "air quotes."
Ex.)
Is there a better way to do this?
To find better "subjects" of study
Is there any need to "remove" them?
These "overdeveloped cells"
So prized by scientists?
("subjects", "remove", and "overdeveloped cells" are all euphemisms for "victims", "abort", and "fetuses" respectively)

gradatio
A chained anadiplosis. Often done with a fluid rhythm.
Ex.)
Fire burns
Burns heal over time
Time teaches us through experience
Experience can sometimes be painful
Painful things are best avoided
One of the most basic lessons learned by children:
Don't touch fire!

hendiadys
The usage of two nouns joined by a conjunction instead of using one of those nouns in its adjective form. Often used for emphasis on two concepts instead of one.
Ex.)
The pain and heat from one bite:
Indescribable.
He wasn't kidding when he told me
His mother's salsa was a mouthful of fire.
(The words "pain and heat" could've easily been replaced by "painful heat", but using the two nouns adds more emphasis to both the pain and the heat)

hendiatris
The usage of three words separated by commas to collectively express one idea. Used to express different ideas with similar relationships.
Ex.)
I love to read, write, and perform poetry
I guess that's just me.
My love cultured by YouTube and iTunes
And love for all things poetic.

hyperbole
An exaggeration done deliberately for emphasis.
Ex.)
It burned like I was in the pits of Hell
But I guess I should turn off the heater
Wool blankets were a bad idea for tonight
But it was winter.
I guess I have good insulation.

imagery
The words or phrases a writer uses to represent objects, feelings, actions, or ideas to create a vivid picture. Such a picture is created by the invocation of the five senses to create a more visceral response.
Ex.)
Look outside
See how the clouds creep across the sky
See how the sun shines with brilliance
See the flowers in bloom
This is country scenery

innuendo
An implied hint of something taboo or improper (such as insults, accusations, or sexual references) under the masking of a harmless phrase. Innuendos are usually aimed at certain people or things and are usually intentional.
Ex.)
She was quite the...mechanic
She could fix any transmission
Turn any crankshaft
And always had lube on hand.
She always greased axels well
She drained the fluid lines
And she gave the best rates.
Needless to say she was very popular.

irony
A contradiction through opposites that is usually meant to be humorous. There are a few types of irony: situational irony, verbal irony, and dramatic irony.
situational irony
The occurrence of accidental events that seem appropriate to the situation. Basically, the opposite of what is expected to happen
Ex.)
Timmy told a Jesus joke
And everyone was just laughing and laughing.
Until he was hit by lightning.
What are the chances?
Not bad since it was during a thunderstorm.
All I know is
We'll be making fun of Timmy for years to come
And I'll be going to church more often.
I'm not risking anything.
verbal irony (sarcasm)
Saying one thing and meaning the exact opposite.
Ex.)
I love your cooking!
Nothing like the smoky char of burnt chicken
Overcooked broccoli that's wilted to unrecognition
And a pie the consistency of a mix of brick and mortar
You have a culinary talent like no other
That's not necessarily a bad thing.
As my love for you is tougher than this chicken
And much more flavorful
In an effort to save this marriage
I have an idea:
Let's go out tonight...just this once
dramatic irony
When the reader knows something about the story that the characters do not.
Ex.)
Cops hiding in the background of a parking lot
Anticipating
One man drives up
"How much for a good time?"
One woman
"Depends, how much you got?"
"I've got plenty."
"Fine, pull to the back lot.
It's nice and private there."
A gentle engine hum ceases
One giddy man with cash rustling in his hands
Three pistol clicks
"Get out of the car, scumbag!"
One more click across the wrists.

juxtaposition
To place two or more things together for the purposes of comparison or contrast.
Ex.)
Each step was shorter than the last
Each second becomes even slower
One sign:
Fast Food
It seems to lie
As cars go speeding by
As groups of people pass behind me
And I am left with the quandary:
Would you like the combo or just the sandwich?

literary metaphor
Implied comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as".
Ex.)
She brushed away
That speck of dirt
Called criticism

litotes
A form of meiosis in which the thought is expressed by denying its opposite or saying the opposite is not true. This understatement is usually very deliberate.
Ex.)
I did not say I was right
I just said you were wrong
I am not arrogant at all
You're just sensitive

loaded word
A word that takes on multiple meanings in one context.
Ex.)
The death of tradition
Is the rebirth of innovation
("death" and "rebirth" take on physical, spiritual, and philosophical contexts here)

meiosis
An understatement. The opposite of hyperbole.
Ex.)
This kingdom is mine
A paradise to behold
Then why does that sign
Say "Mobile Home"

metonymy
A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of the thing for that of another thing of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated.
Ex.)
The court rendered a verdict
Guilty
Murder in the first degree
A silence filled the room...
One mother left crying on the bench
(actually the jury did, but court makes it metonymy)

neologism
A new word that has been recently coined that is in wide circulation. Neologisms are similar to protologisms except that they have been incorporated into mainstream vernacular.
Ex.)
Do lie detectors really work?
Can a machine really validate the truthiness of a testimony,
Weed out the lies and bring the facts to life?
(Truthiness in this context means "the state of being true." It is a word coined by comedian Stephen Colbert on his show The Colbert Report. It has not been a word for very long-a few years at most.)

onomatopoeia (echoic word)
The use of words whose sound reinforces their meaning.
Ex.)
I heard a loud bang
From the church down the street
Then I saw the fireworks
And boy, were they neat

oxymoron
Two words that when put together sharply contrast to the point where they are viewed as incompatible.
Ex.)
That is one honest lawyer
His friend is a sober alcoholic
And his brother is a rich hobo.
What a functional fracas.

paradiastole
The use of a euphemism as a positive word. Basically, the process of reversing a negative word into a positive word through the use of a euphemism.
Ex.)
She was a curvy, bodacious, beautiful woman
A woman of the night.
She offered her services as an escort for reasons her own
She was respected despite her occupation
And most of all, she was a crafty businesswoman
Who always got her fair pay
Even from her pimp.
("curvy" is a paradiastole for large, "woman of the night" and "escort" are paradiastoles for prostitute, and "crafty businesswoman" is a paradiastole for con artist)

paradox
Two things that cannot happen at the same time since logically they cycle endlessly or they contradict each other.
Ex.)
He set himself on fire
Yet he never burned.
He lives to this day
No sign he was engulfed in flames
Not a singe mark on his clothes.
Not a single burn upon his skin
His hair remains intact
How he could pull off such a feat
Well, I can't answer that.

paragram
A wordplay that uses altered letters to form a pun. Usually referred to as amateur since these types of puns usually accompany childish jokes. Despite this, these sorts of puns do have their merit in literature.
Ex.)
Here's a strange one:
Did you know they painted the image of a Russian Tsar onto a piece of tissue paper?
You know what they called it?
Ivan the Tearable!
(Ivan the Terrible-Russian Tsar. Tissue paper-tearable. The rest is simple.)

parallelism
Repeating phrases with the same grammatical structure. Usually requires that either the verb stays the same and the object changes or the object stays the same and the verb changes. There are three types: simple parallelism (most common use of parallelism), isocolon parallelism, and tricolon parallelism.
Ex.)
simple parallelism (one parallel structure)
Take off your shoes, your shirts, and your worries.
(or for a more poetic version)
Take off your shoes
Take off your shirts
Take off your worries
isocolon parallelism (two parallel structures)
Those who live for good are admired in the long run.
Those who live for evil are despised in the long run.
tricolon parallelism (three parallel structures)
I'd give up my house to be in your arms
I'd give up my car to sit next to you
I'd give up my television to stare at you every day
I'd give up all my belongings to be with you

paraprosdokian
When the last part of a phrase twists so sharply that the first part must be read again to make sense of the whole phrase.
Ex.)
I have never had a point in my life
A point where I was so unsure of myself
A point where death was more than welcomed.
This was a Hell of which no one should ever know
A Hell where fire seemed refreshing
A Hell where molten rock could cool me off
Where the worst of all situations
Was more desirable than anything right now.
War is more than Hell
In fact, I'd much rather be in Hell.
("fire seemed refreshing" and "rock could cool me off" are the paraprosdokian)

personification
Attributing human qualities to an inanimate object.
Ex.)
The trees stared at me
Towering over me
Judging me
Knowing I was an intruder

pleonasm
The usage of redundancy to emphasize on a certain idea. Basically, two words with the same or similar meanings
Ex.)
Is there a shred of human kindness
Where people can care for the less fortunate?
Where health is not subject to income?
Where, at this moment in time, we are in a crisis.
(the phrase "moment in time" is redundant, as a moment is understood to be within a certain time, but does add emphasis)

polysyndeton
Using many conjunctions to create a tangled mess of words that would best imply something overbearing.
Ex.)
And I could use the money it for a new boat
Or for a new car
But I couldn't get both
Or I'd be broke
And that would be a shame
Or maybe it would be a blessing
And that's probably only for the salesman
Therefore I will open a savings account

portmanteau
The combination of two or more words into a new hybrid word either by combining said words with no modification or by severing and splicing together parts of the word. The combination of words often denotes the meaning of the new word. Portmanteau is often popular with brand names.
Ex.)
He was a fan of internet dating
He went to what he termed "cyberclubs"
His mission: get with a woman
In the attempt to not go home alone
Maybe tonight won't be so lonely
("cyberclub" is a combination of the word cyber [pertaining to the internet] and club [a combination of a bar, a dance hall, and a socialization area] to make a word that roughly means an internet version of a socializing establishment)

polyptoton
Using words that sound the same to convey different meanings. Polyptoton is a form of pun.
Ex.)
She was embroiled in a feud of culinary implications
She baked, broiled, boiled and sautéed
Hoping to show her superiority
But her competitive nature boiled over
And she could not cook without a grandiose show
As she was convinced she was the sole victor.
(notice the different meanings of the words "boiled" and "broiled": that is the polyptoton)

prosopopoeia
A form of personification in which an inanimate object gains the ability to speak. The inanimate object need not be identified directly (as in mentioned in words; it can be hinted), though whether it is or it isn't identified directly depends on the writer's choice.
Ex.)
Moss:
There were no trees left
Just us
Clinging onto their remnant stumps.
We often envied them for their height
Their ability to touch the heavens.
Even with this desecration
They still tower over us.
Even in defeat, they are strong.

protologism
A word that is made up and is not part of any common vocabulary. A common tactic used by William Shakespeare (does "When you can't find the word, make it up" ring any bells?).
Ex.)
The intracausationalization of devotion:
Loyalty soon leads to extremism
Sad truth that is the curse of the religious
The saddest part:
They are being violently stripped of devotion
A tragic blow to the Constitution.
(Intracausationalization roughly means "to become like an element related to an element within the factor that causes an event." It's a completely made-up word. Go on ahead, look it up. You won't find it.)

pun (paronomasia)
A play on words with multiple meanings for the purpose of creating humor. Can be homonymic phrases (phrases that sound the same but are spelled different), similar sounding phrases (one phrase meant to sound like another), a transitive characteristic (giving one item a characteristic of another), or some other sort of wordplay.
Ex.)
I've just been informed the cake contained lead...
No wonder it was so dense!
Perhaps we should do a head count
Before we do the dead count

repetition
Using the same word or phrase over and over.
Ex.)
The running of the runners
You can hear it
A beat, a beat
Of running feet

rhetorical question
A question that is asked without any intention of being answered. Rhetorical questions imply emotions without stating them directly.
Ex.)
Is it fair?
Is it fair not to give a woman such as this one a good eulogy?
She was a philanthropist
She was a volunteer
She was a saint.
She gave of herself to better society
Hoping that one day people would learn to help their fellow men
Just as she had.
So is it fair?
You do her no justice
For she deserves more than anyone here could offer.

simile
An explicit comparison between two unlike things signified by using the words "like" or "as."
Ex.)
The car, freshly waxed, shone
Like a precious jewel or stone

symbol
A person, place, thing, or event used to represent something else.
Ex.)
He carries his burdens
His own personal cross
I know they will eventually kill him
Eventually
(cross is the symbol for Jesus' cross he was crucified upon)

symploce
Repeating words in both the beginning and end of a phrase multiple times.
Ex.)
There is a need for rational discussion
There is a want for intelligent discussion
There is a demand for polite discussion
There is a yearning for real discussion
Arguments are getting us nowhere

synæsthesia (synesthesia)
The combination of two different senses that, when combined, is physically impossible.
Ex.)
How does your lifetime taste?
If you could affix one flavor to your experience on Earth
What would it be?
How would you characterize the flavor of the passing years?
How would your taste buds tingle if you were to take one lick
Of your own life?

synecdoche
The rhetorical substitution of a part for the whole.
Ex.)
One great mark of man
Speeding down the highway
The dream of teens across the land
Realized by me:
I have a set of wheels today
(that means I have a car; the wheels substitute for car)

synonymia
The usage of synonyms in succession for clarification or heightening emotion. Basically, the process of chaining synonyms.
Ex.)
If there is one piece of advice I'm glad I received
It would have to be this:
I enjoy the pursuits of intellectuality
The enthusiasm, passion, and zeal exhibited
By those who yearn to learn
Is paralleled to none
Take a page out of their book
Learn something-no matter how small and insignificant
It makes a world of a difference

tenor
The subject of a metaphor. Basically, the concrete object being compared with the abstract idea.
Ex.)
Life is but a cabaret
And we are cheap performers
We dance within this masquerade
Where stars are snuffed or brought to fame
("Life" and "we" are the tenors)

vogue word (vogue expression)
A word or phrase that is widely used in pop culture. It is usually a fad word and does not last long.
Ex.)
"That's hot. That's not"
She was shopping for shoes
"I need to twitter this.
Update my facebook..."
Yeah, let the world know you're in a store
Sitting here, looking at shoes.
What would they do without you?
How ruined their days would be!

zeugma (synezeugmenon)
Using one verb for two objects (direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the preposition, or a mix of the three) in sequence. Zeugma has four subcategories depending on the usage: syllepsis, prozeugma or protozeugma, mesozeugma, and hypozeugma. Syllepsis is the use of one of the objects to modify the meaning of the verb. Prozeugma (Protozeugma) is the placement of the verb before the objects. Mesozeugma is the placement of the verb between the objects (as in it repeats). Hypozeugma is the placement of the verb after the objects.
Ex.)
The boss fired up his cigar and his employee
Enraging her with a pink slip
Her coffee and her head are boiling
Her rant is scathing
She is either thinking out loud
Or thinking of ways to leave the room
A mob seems to be forming
And chairs seem to be flying
She has lost her job and her clean criminal record
(This example conveniently has all the forms of zeugma. Line 1 has the syllepsis. Line 3 has the hypozeugma. Lines 5 and 6 have the mesozeugma. Line 9 has the protozeugma. It's all zeugma, just different usages.)

zoomorphism
The attribution of animal behavior to either the supernatural (i.e. gods), natural forces, or to human beings. Often, zoomorphism in relation to human beings is used by paralleling human behavior with animal behavior.
Ex.)
The sky thundered above our heads
We realized the inevitable
It came in like a lion
Slashing at all that dared cross its path
No foundation strong enough to withstand its menace
As it pounces on the terrain
Unbridled
Uncontrolled
One twisted wind