How to identify and use poetic devices in English class

Hello savvy high school vets, I'm a bit confused with this English assignment regarding poetic devices. Any comprehensive source or just some cogent examples you guys can share? It's just not clicking for me using my current resources.

Absolutely, happy to help break it down! Poetic devices are really the nuts and bolts which construct a poem, and understanding them can greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the poem as a whole. Here are a few common poetic devices you'll likely encounter:

1. Simile, where one thing is compared to another using words 'like' or 'as'. An example might be, "his words flowed smooth as a river", comparing someone's speech to the continuous flow of a river to emphasize its fluency.

2. Metaphor, similar to a simile, but without using 'like' or 'as'. For example, "her smile is sunshine", comparing a person's smile directly to the sun to imply its warmth and brightness.

3. Alliteration, which is the repetition of the first consonant sound in a series of multiple words, or the repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words. For instance, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

4. Onomatopoeia, where a word mimics the sound it represents, likr 'buzz', 'whirr', 'sizzle'.

5. Personification, which is attributing human characteristics to non-human objects. One example could be "the wind whistled through the trees", implying the wind is capable of whistling as a human might.

6. Imagery, language that represents sensory experience – not just visual (images) but also taste, touch, smell, sounds. For example “it was dark and dim in the forest” the words “dark” and “dim” are visual images.

7. Hyperbole, or extreme exaggeration, used for emphasis or dramatic effect. E.g. "I've told you a million times," or "His smile lit up the room."

Each of these devices helps to create more vivid and powerful impressions for the reader. As you read the piece for your assignment, try to identify each device being used and think about not just what the surface meaning is, but what the deeper, symbolic meaning might be.

And remember, poetry is not a science with right or wrong answers – it's an art! Your personal interpretation and response to the poem are just as important as identifying the devices used within it.