Poetry Glossary

Imagery

descriptive language that represents objects, actions and ideas in such a way that appeals to our physical senses

visual imagery

"the snow glows white on the mountain tonight / not a footprint to be seen"

auditory imagery

tries to get you to understand what it sounds like

tactile imagery

focuses on things the reader can feel

gustatory imagery

allows you to imagine what something tastes like

olfactory imagery

pertains to odors, aromas, scents, or the sense of smell

metaphor

a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two unrelated things that share some common characteristics

extended metaphor

a metaphor that develops the subject at length, highlighting the comparisons in an intense, complex manner

implied metaphor

one term is implied rather then explicitly stated

personification

a figure of speech in which a thing