English Poem Terms

Metaphor

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used in place of another to suggest a similarity.

Simile

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

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound, especially at the end of stressed syllable and without corresponding vowel sounds.

Assonance

Repeating vowel sounds within a line or used as a form of rhyme without the corresponding repetition of consonant sounds.

Alliteration

Repeating consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more neighboring words or syllables.

Rhyme

(noun version) When the sounds at the ends of lines or words correspond.

Line break

The places where a poet ends one line and begins another. These choices can emphasize words or affect the poems pace.

Allusion

An implied or indirect reference.

Onomatopoeia

Naming a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound it makes.

Hyperbole

Extravagant exaggeration.

Personification

Giving human qualities to a thing or abstract concept.

Juxtaposition

Placing two things side by side often to compare or contrast for effect.

Irony

The use of words to express something other than and especially opposite to the literal meaning.

Stanza

A group of lines in a poem, separated from other groups by a blank space. Basically a paragraph in poetry.

Mood

The overall feeling of a text created by the authors choice of images and words.

Tone

The attitude of a writer toward the subject or the audience, as shown through word choice and style.

Enjabments

When a sentence or thought continues onto the next line without a punctuation mark or natural pause at the lines end.

Symbolism

Using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea.

End stop

When a line ends with punctuation that marks a pause or the end of a thought.

Repetiton

Reusing a word, phrase, line, or sound to emphasize an idea or create rhythm.

Imagery

Descriptive language that helps readers imagine something through sight, sounds, smell, taste, or touch.

Diction

A writers word choice which help shape meaning, tone, and style.

Connotative meaning

The feelings, associations, or ideas connected to a word beyond its dictionary definition. Usually a neutral, positive, or negative.

Denotative meaning

A words dictionary meaning.