Poem Terms I

allegory

A symbolic narrative that conveys a deeper meaning, often moral or political.

alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work.

anapest

A metrical foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable.

antagonist

A character or force opposing the main character, or protagonist.

apostrophe

A figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent person, abstract idea, or object.

aside

A dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, revealing their thoughts while others on stage remain unaware.

aubade

A poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning.

ballad

A narrative poem that tells a story, often in a song-like form.

blank verse

Unrhymed verse, particularly in iambic pentameter.

cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

caesura

A pause in a line of poetry, often occurring after a punctuation mark.

catharsis

The emotional release or purging that occurs when an audience reacts to a tragic work.

character

A person, animal, or figure in a literary work.

climax

The turning point or most intense moment in a narrative.

comic relief

A humorous scene or character that provides a break from the seriousness of the narrative.

conflict

A struggle between opposing forces in a narrative.

connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.

convention

The established practices or techniques used in literature or other forms of art.

couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that usually rhyme and have the same meter.

dactyl

A metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to its connotation.

denouement

The resolution or conclusion of a literary work, following the climax.

diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

elegy

A mournful poem or piece of music written in remembrance of someone deceased.

deus ex machina

An unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation in a narrative.

dramatic monologue

A type of poem in which a single speaker addresses a silent listener.

enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break in poetry.

epic

A lengthy narrative poem that recounts the adventures of heroic figures.

epigram

A pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way.

euphony

The quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words.

exposition

The introduction of background information in a narrative.

fable

A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.

flashback

A literary device that interrupts the chronological flow of a narrative to depict previous events.

foot

The basic unit of measurement in poetry, consisting of a certain number of syllables.

figurative language

Language that uses figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes, to convey meanings.

foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in a narrative.

form

The structure or organization of a literary work.

free verse

Poetry that does not follow regular patterns of rhyme or meter.

hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

iamb

A metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable.

idyll

A simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life.

image

A representation of an object or experience that evokes sensory experiences.

imagery

Descriptive language that creates vivid mental pictures for the reader.

impressionism

A literary style that aims to capture the essence of a moment or experience.

irony

A contrast between expectation and reality; often, the opposite of what is meant.

lyric poetry

Poetry that expresses personal emotions or thoughts, typically in a musical style.

magic realism

A literary genre in which fantastical elements are blended with realistic settings.

metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares one thing to another for rhetorical effect.

meter

The rhythmic structure of lines in poetry, determined by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.

metaphysical poetry

Poetry that explores complex and philosophical themes through witty and ingenious wordplay.

metonymy

A figure of speech in which one thing is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it.

monologue

A lengthy speech by a single character in a narrative.

motif

A recurring theme, subject, or idea in a literary work.

narrator

The person or character who tells the story.

narrative poem

A poem that tells a story, often in a structured form.

octave

A stanza or poem of eight lines, often used in sonnets.

ode

A lyrical poem typically in praise of an event, person, or thing.

onomatopeia

A word that phonetically imitates or resembles the sound it describes.

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.

parable

A simple story illustrating a moral or spiritual lesson.

paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.

parallelism

The use of similar grammatical structures for effect.

parody

A humorous or satirical imitation of a work or genre.

pathos

A rhetorical approach that evokes emotions, particularly pity or compassion.

personification

A figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to non-human entities.

plot

The sequence of events in a narrative.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is narrated.

protagonist

The main character in a literary work, often facing a central conflict.

quatrain

A stanza of four lines, typically with alternating rhyme.

resolution

The part of a story where the conflicts are resolved.

rhetorical question

A question posed for effect, not requiring an answer.

rhyme/rime

The repetition of similar sounds, typically at the end of lines in poetry.

rhythm

The pattern of sounds and silences in poetry, which creates flow and movement.

rhyme scheme

The pattern of rhymes in a poem, usually described using letters.

romanticism

A literary and artistic movement emphasizing emotion and individualism.

satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock.

scansion

The analysis of a poem's rhythm and meter.

sestet

A stanza of six lines, especially in a sonnet.

sestina

A form of poetry that consists of six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line stanza.

setting

The time and place in which a story occurs.

simile

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

soliloquy

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud, often in a play, regardless of any listeners.

sonnet

A 14-line poem, typically written in iambic pentameter.

spondee

A metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables.

stage directions

Instructions in a script that indicate movement or positioning of actors.

stanza

A grouped set of lines within a poem, often separated by a space.

structure

The arrangement and organization of a literary work.

style

The unique manner in which an author expresses their thoughts through language.

subplot

A secondary plot that runs parallel to the main plot in a narrative.

subtext

The underlying meaning or themes that are not explicitly stated.

symbol

An object or action that represents a larger concept or idea.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole.

syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

tercet

A stanza of three lines, often with a specific rhyme scheme.

theme

The central idea or message conveyed in a literary work.

tone

The author's attitude or feeling toward the subject matter or audience.

tragic hero

A character who experiences downfall due to a flaw or mistake.

trochee

A metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable.

understatement

A figure of speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important than it is.