Style in poetry involves the method which a poet uses to convey meaning, tone, and emotion in his/her poem. For instance, the meaning and significance can be conveyed through the form of a poem. Certainly, an ode or a sonnet is a more formal arrangement used more for a serious subject (unless the poet is being satirical). Musical devices such as rhythm and rhyme are part of a poet's style. Words, too, are often chosen for sound as well as for meaning. An essential element is repetition which reinforces meaning while variation invites interest. In fact, all things people enjoy have these two elements.
The arrangement of the words in a line, as well as the arrangement of lines in the entire poem both contribute to a poet's style. Emily Dickinson, for instance, makes uses of dashes and capitalization as a stylistic device while e.e.cummings never capitalizes any word. These devices are used because poets wish to bring a sense and a perception of life, widening peoples' contacts with existence. And, since poets' concern are with experience, they choose certain stylistic devices to create significant and new experiences for their readers. In poetry, experiences can be synthesized, analyzed, enjoyed simply, etc. But, the way in which poets present their poems is their style.
Other stylistic devices that poets use are connotation and denotation, the suggested as well as the literal meanings of words. Figurative language such as metaphors and similies also add more meaning and picturesque language to a phrase or word as well as creating speed to the line, for example, as alliteration does.
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