Literary Devices and Poetic Terms

Vocabulary flashcards from lecture notes on literary devices and poetic terms.

Alliteration

Repetition of beginning consonant sounds in nearby words.

Anaphora

Repeating the same word or phrase at sentence beginnings.

Allusion

Indirect reference to a famous person, place, or event.

Antanaclasis

Repeating a word with different meanings in the sentence.

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas placed side-by-side for dramatic effect.

Anadiplosis

Ending one clause with a word that starts the next.

Antimetabole

Repeating words in reverse order for rhetorical impact.

Apostrophe

Speaking to an absent person, object, or abstract idea.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby non-rhyming words.

Asyndeton

Omitting conjunctions between words or clauses for effect.

Balanced Sentences

Two parts equal in length and grammatical structure.

Conceit

Extended metaphor with complex logic, often unusual or surprising.

Cacophony

Harsh, jarring sounds used for disturbing poetic effect.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at word endings.

Epistrophe

Repetition of phrases or words at sentence endings.

Epithet

Descriptive phrase expressing a key trait of something.

Enjambment

Sentence or phrase runs beyond line break without punctuation.

End-stopped Lines

Line ends with punctuation, completing thought or sentence.

Epizeuxis

Immediate repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis.

Euphemism

Polite or mild word replacing a harsh or blunt one.

Euphony

Pleasant, melodic sounds used to create a soothing effect.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Descriptive language appealing to senses, creating vivid pictures.

Internal Rhyme

Rhyming words occur within the same poetic line.

Irony

Expression of meaning by using language that signifies opposite.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting elements side-by-side for strong effect.

Lines/Stanza/Verse

Individual poetic lines; grouped lines form stanzas or verses.

Long Sentence

Extended sentence used for flow, detail, or emphasis.

Metaphor

Direct comparison saying one thing is another without 'like.'

Meter

Structured rhythm pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Mood/Tone

Mood: reader’s feeling; Tone: author’s attitude or voice.

Prose

Ordinary written or spoken language, without metrical structure.

Personification

Giving human traits to nonhuman things or ideas.

Theme/Thematic Statement

Central message or insight expressed throughout the poem.

Paradox

Self-contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.

Telegraphic Sentence

Very short sentence, typically five words or fewer.

Perfect/Imperfect Rhyme

Perfect: exact sounds; Imperfect: similar but not exact rhymes.

Polysyndeton

Repetition of conjunctions between phrases for dramatic effect.

Pun

Play on words exploiting multiple meanings or similar sounds.

Synecdoche

Part used to represent whole or whole for part.