Page 5 - RAIN ON THE ROOF- MODULE

Literary Devices in the poem

Rhyme scheme of the poem: abcbdefe

Stanza 1
a. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more consecutive words.
‘Humid Hover’ - ‘h’ sound is repeating.
‘starry spheres’ - ‘s’ should is repeating.
‘press pillow’- ‘p’ sound is repeating.
‘lie listening’ - ‘l’ sound is repeating.
b. Onomatopoeia: The use of sound words to create a dramatic effect and auditory
imagery.
‘Patter’ is the use of sound word. It is the sound made by the rain drops falling on the roof
top.
c. Personification: Treating a non – living thing as a living being.
darkness has been personified when he says that it is sad.
d. Transferred Epithet: The use of an adjective with a noun when it refers to another
noun.
In ‘melancholy darkness’, the darkness is not melancholy, but it refers to the sad people.

Stanza 2
a. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more consecutive words.
‘busy being’ - ‘b’ sound is repeating
‘their thread’ - ‘th’ sound is repeating
‘rain roof’ - ‘r’ sound is repeating
b. Onomatopoeia: The use of sound words to create a dramatic effect and auditory
imagery.
‘tinkle’, ‘patter’ – sounds made by the raindrops
c. Personification: Treating a non – living thing as a living being.
recollection is personified when he says that they weave dreams.
d. Transferred Epithet: The use of an adjective with a noun when it refers to another
noun.
‘dreamy fancies’ – it does not mean that the fancies are dreamy but refers to the people
who have dreams.

Stanza 3
a. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more consecutive words.
‘memory my mother’ - ‘m’ sound is repeating
‘Darling dreamers’ - ‘d’ sound is repeating
b. Onomatopoeia: The use of sound words to create a dramatic effect and auditory
imagery.
‘patter’ – sound of raindrops falling on the shingles of the roof.

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