Poetic Techniques Glossary

A set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key poetic and literary techniques from the lecture notes.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same initial

Apostrophe (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to indicate possession or the omission of letters in contractions (e.g., “Isn’t,” “we’ll”).

Assonance

Repetition of identical or similar vowel

Connotation

word carries beyond its literal meaning

Hyperbole

Intentional exaggeration

Imagery

Descriptive or figurative language

Irony

humorous or emphatic effect

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas, characters, or objects side by side

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly states one thing is another unrelated thing

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates or suggests the sound it describes (e.g., “sizzle,” “cuckoo”).

Oxymoron

A phrase that combines two seemingly contradictory terms (e.g., “deafening silence”).

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities or abstract ideas (e.g., “The sun kissed my cheeks”).

Repetition

The deliberate reuse of words, phrases, or ideas for emphasis or rhythmic effect (e.g., “Time after time”).

Simile

A comparison using the words “like” or “as” to highlight similarities between two different things (e.g., “As quiet as a mouse”).

Sibilance

Repeated hissing or soft consonant sounds, especially “s,” “sh,” and “z,” within a phrase or sentence.

Symbolism

Using objects, characters, or events to represent larger ideas or concepts (e.g., a dove symbolizes peace).