Poetic Literary Terms & Techniques for Vocab Test

Flashcards covering poetic literary terms and techniques for vocabulary test preparation.

Setting

The psychological, physical, historical, and cultural backgrounds in which a story unfolds.

Diction

The choice of words and phrases in writing, affecting clarity and expression.

Irony

A figure of speech expressing a gap between reality and expectations.

Verbal Irony

Irony expressed through spoken words, often highlighting the opposite of what is meant.

Situational Irony

A situation where the outcome is contrary to what is expected.

Soliloquy

A long speech by a character alone on stage, revealing their thoughts.

Alliteration

The repetition of similar consonant sounds in closely placed words.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Imagery

Language that evokes sensory experiences or creates a mental picture.

Metaphor

A figure of speech making a comparison between two unlike things without explicit words of comparison.

Implied Metaphor

A metaphor suggesting a comparison indirectly without stating it explicitly.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is elaborated on throughout a piece of writing.

Motif

A recurring element that unifies a literary work by connecting different parts.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that juxtaposes contradictory terms.

Personification

Attributing human qualities to animals or inanimate objects.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Symbol

An object or element representing a broader concept or idea.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech where part of something represents the whole.

Allegory

A narrative in which characters and events symbolize broader themes and concepts.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well-known person, event, or literary work.

Ambiguity

Deliberately suggesting multiple meanings in a work.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences.

Apostrophe

Addressing a person not present or an abstract idea as though it can respond.

Assonance

Repetition of similar vowel sounds in closely placed words.

Ballad

A narrative poem that tells a story, often with a musical quality.

Blank Verse

Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.

Cacophony

Harsh, discordant sounds in poetry, often for effect.

Cadence

The rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words.

Conflict

The struggle between opposing characters or forces.

External Conflict

A conflict that occurs between a character and external forces.

Internal Conflict

A struggle occurring within a character's mind.

Connotation

The emotional associations attached to a word beyond its dictionary definition.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, usually at the end of words.

Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that typically rhyme.

Dialect

A regional or social variety of language differing from standard speech.

Elegy

A formal poem mourning a loss or reflecting on death.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.

Epic

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

Epigraph

A quotation at the beginning of a work hinting at its theme.

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or clauses.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect expression substituted for one that may be offensive.

Foot

The basic unit of rhythm in poetry, consisting of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Free Verse

Poetry that lacks a consistent meter or rhyme scheme.

Internal Rhyme

Rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting elements together for effect.

Lyric Poem

A poem expressing personal feelings rather than telling a story.

Tercet

A stanza or poem of three lines.

Meter

The structured rhythm of a poem, based on the arrangement of syllables.

Ode

A formal, ceremonial lyric poem that honors someone or something.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sound they represent.

Parable

A simple story illustrating a moral or lesson.

Paradox

A statement with seemingly contradictory elements that may reveal a truth.

Parallel Structure

Repetition of similar grammatical structures for effect.

Quatrain

A stanza or poem consisting of four lines.

Rhythm

The pattern of sounds in poetry created by varying stressed and unstressed syllables.

Stanza

A grouped set of lines in a poem, separated from other groups by a space.

Stream of Consciousness

A writing style that captures a character's inner thoughts and feelings.

Style

The distinctive way a writer uses language.

Theme

The central idea or message conveyed by a literary work.

Thesis

The main argument or claim presented in a literary work.

Tone

The attitude of the writer toward the subject, revealed through diction and style.

Vernacular

The everyday language spoken by a group of people.