AP English Lit Poetry

“Introduction to Poetry” (1988)

“Introduction to Poetry” (1988)

Billy Collins

“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer”(1855)

Walt Whitman

“Metaphors” (1959)

Sylvia Plath

“My Last Duchess” (1842)

Robert Browning

“Porphyria's Lover” (1836)

Robert Browning

“I am Offering This Poem” (1990)

Jimmy Santiago Baca

Sonnet 73 (1609)

William Shakespeare

Sonnet 43 “How Do I Love Thee?” (1850)

Elizabeth Barrett browning

What poet is known for their dramatic monologues?

Robert Browning

alliteration

Figure of speech that involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. Used to create emphasis, rhythm, and musicality in writing and speech. Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

anaphora

Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis. Used in speeches or writing to create rhythm and make ideas more memorable. Example: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields..."

assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within words or phrases. Example: "fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese."

caesura

A pause or break in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation, creating a rhythmic effect.

conceit

An exaggerated comparison that often involves an inflated sense of self-importance or superiority. It is a literary device used to highlight the speaker's cleverness or wit.

connotation

The emotional or cultural associations and meanings that a word carries beyond its literal definition. It can be positive, negative, or neutral, and varies based on individual experiences and cultural context.

consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity within a phrase or sentence. It adds musicality and rhythm to writing. Example: "Pitter-patter" or "All mammals named Sam are clammy."

couplet

A pair of lines in a poem that rhyme and have the same meter. Often used in sonnets and other poetic forms.

diction

The choice and use of words in speech or writing, which influences the clarity, style, and effectiveness of communication.

enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or thought beyond the end of a line in poetry, without a pause or punctuation.

hyperbole

Figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect.

imagery

Imagery is a literary term that refers to the use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental images in the reader's mind. It involves the use of sensory details, such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, to evoke a sensory experience and enhance the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the text.

metaphor

Comparing two unrelated things without using "like" or "as" to create a vivid image.

onomatopoeia

the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is name ex. boom

personification

giving human like traits to an object

quatrain

group of four lines in a sonnet

rhyme scheme

the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse

similie

comparison using like or as

stanza

a division of a poem consisting of two or more lines arranged together as a unit.

tone

expresses the writers attitude or feelings

volta

a rhetorical shift that marks the change of a thought or argument in a poem.