AP Literature Dunn Poetry Vocabulary

Early year and late year review cards

Alliteration

The repetition of initial stressed, consonant sounds in a series of words within a phrase or verse line.

Allusion

A reference to another text or piece of literature.

Apostrophe

When a speaker addresses something that cannot respond.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together but do not rhyme.

Cacophony

Repetition of harsh or unpleasant words that are used create a specific effect usually chaos.

Consonance

A resemblance in sound between two words, or an initial rhyme.

Euphony

A pleasant sounding combination of words.

Feminine Rhyme

A rhyme involving two syllables such as billow and willow.

Hyperbole

A exaggeration used for effect.

Internal Rhyme

Rhyme in the middle of a line.

Masculine Rhyme

Rhymes ending in a stressed syllable.

Metaphor

Compares two unlike things by saying one is the other.

Metonymy

Something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it. “The crown” refers to the king or queen.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds to create a audio effect for the reader.

Paradox

A statement that appear self contradictory but actually reveals something deeper.

Personification

Giving a non human, human like qualities.

Simile

Comparison of two things using like or as.

Synecdoche

Part of something represents the whole. “Her terrified hands”

Synesthesia

Describes one sensory experience in terms of another. “A loud dress” saying that it is very colorful.

Understatment

Describe something as less than it is for ironic or comedic effect.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive lines.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..."(Dickens)

Caesura

A pause in the rhythm in a line of poetry, occurring mid line rather than at the end of a line or stanza.

“To be or not to be, that is the question”

Conceit

An elaborate extended metaphor comparing two very unlike things.

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” compares a compass to two lovers.

Diction

End Stop

English/Shakespearean Sonnet

Enjambment

Euphemism

Imagery

Inversion

Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet

Kenning

Octave

Oxymoron

Pun

Quatrain

Refrain

Sestet

Slant Rhyme

Spenserian Sonnet