How can I tell what the structure of poetry is? The figurative language?

Answer 1

OOOh...thats a hard problem, but maybe this can help you. Below is a list of all the figurative language that you can find in a poem. A few like assonance, and consonance are more unusual than others:

Alliteration- Repetition of the same consonant or sounds at the beginning of nearby words
ex. She sells sea shells by the sea shore

Assonance- Repetition of the same vowel sound within nearby words
ex. I'm hunched over emotions just flows over these cold shoulders are both frozen you don't know me.

Consonance- Repetition of internal consanent sounds
ex. Devouring river overflowed

Onomatopoeia- A word whose pronunciation suggest its meaning
ex. Hiss, thud, pop, bark

Simile- A comparison using like or as
ex. The kitty cat was as black as night

Metaphor- A direct comparison (not using like or as)
ex. The jacket was brown mud

End Rhyme- repetition of identical or similar sounds located at the end of a line in a poem
ex. My dog is cute, and has a big fluffy tail
I would rather own her, than own a whale
-Courtesy of Mr. Burns

Internal Rhyme- repetition of identical or similar sounds located in the same line
ex. The pretty cat sat upon a desk

Repetition- when a word or phrase is repeated
ex. Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
-Edgar Allen Poe

Hyperbole- An exaggeration
ex. She was so happy she could fly

Personification-Giving human qualitities to something inhuman
ex. The lake licked the side of the building


Now, here is a website called shadow poetry. It lists poems by traditional and contemporary. If you also explore the rest of the site, there's a lot more stuff to help you with poetry:

http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html

I hope these help you with all your poetry needs!!! =)