Figurative Language:
* Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "The city is a jungle").
* Simile: Comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Her eyes are like stars").
* Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts (e.g., "The wind whispered secrets").
* Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect (e.g., "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse").
* Understatement: Deliberately downplaying something for effect (e.g., "It's a bit chilly today" when it's freezing).
* Imagery: Using vivid language to create sensory experiences for the reader (e.g., "The sun beat down on the parched earth").
Sound Devices:
* Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds (e.g., "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers").
* Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds (e.g., "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain").
* Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within words (e.g., "The silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain").
* Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds (e.g., "buzz," "meow," "bang").
Structure and Form:
* Free Verse: Poetry without a set rhyme or meter.
* Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.
* Haiku: A three-line poem with a specific syllable count (5-7-5).
* Stanza: A group of lines in a poem.
* Meter: The rhythmic pattern of a poem.
* Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhymes in a poem.
Other Techniques:
* Symbolism: Using objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas (e.g., a dove symbolizing peace).
* Irony: A contrast between what is said and what is meant.
* Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting elements side by side (e.g., "light and darkness").
* Foreshadowing: Hints or clues about events that will happen later in the story.
* Suspense: A feeling of anticipation or anxiety about what will happen next.
To analyze "Curiosity" by Alastair Reid, consider:
1. What is the central theme or idea of the poem?
2. How does the poet use language to convey this theme?
3. What literary techniques are used, and how do they contribute to the overall effect?
Remember to look for patterns and connections within the text. Consider the poem's structure, rhythm, and tone. By carefully examining the poem's language and structure, you can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and the poet's intentions.