Poetic Terms to Know!

Vocabulary flashcards covering poetic terms and figurative language concepts from the lecture notes.

Stanza

A distinct division in a poem, similar to a paragraph in other genres of writing

Line break

When the poet chooses to end one line and begin another

Verse

A piece of writing arranged in lines/stanzas

Enjambment

A continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line (or stanza) to the next

Alliteration

Repetition of the initial consonant sounds of words

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents

Rhyme

Words with similar sounds repeating at the end or within lines of poetry.

Idiom

A commonly used phrase that isn’t meant to be taken literally

Figurative Language

The label given to all expressions that are NOT meant to be taken literally; metaphors, personification, hyperboles, symbolism, similes, & idioms are ALL considered examples

Symbolism

An object that represents a larger idea

Metaphor

A direct comparison that describes one thing as if it were another

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that extends through multiple stanzas or an entire poem

Simile

Uses a comparison word (‘like’ or ‘as’) to relate two unlike things

Personification

Describing non-human subjects as having human characteristics

Hyperbole

An obvious or intentional exaggeration

Imagery

When figurative and sensory language combine to create a strong mental image