Literary Devices (Poetry)

Ode

A poem that praises a person, place, thing, or idea. It’s often emotional and thoughtful.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a regular rhyme scheme, usually about love

Dramatic monologue

A poem where one character speaks to an unseen listener, revealing their thoughts, feelings, or secrets.

Volta

A turn or shift in a poem — the moment when the poem’s idea or tone changes.

Free verse

Poetry with no fixed rhyme or rhythm. It sounds more like natural speech.

Extended metaphor

A single comparison that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.

Epigraph

A short quotation placed at the beginning of a poem or text to hint at themes.

Anaphora

When a word or phrase is repeated at the start of several lines.

Refrain

A repeated line or phrase in a poem (like a chorus in a song).

Metre

A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates rhythm.

Enjambment

When a line of poetry runs on to the next line without punctuation.

End-stopped

A line of poetry that ends with punctuation, making the reader pause.

Caesura

A pause in the middle of a line, usually shown by punctuation.

Homophone

Two words that sound the same but have dierent meanings/spellings (e.g., pair/pear).

Polysemy

A single word with multiple meanings (e.g., bright meaning “intelligent” or “shiny”).

Dynamic verb

A doing verb that shows action or movement (e.g., run, jump, laugh).

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds (e.g. “cold stone road”). Creates rhythmic, memorable pattern.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds, often at the end or in the middle of words. Slows down, makes emotionally intense. (e.g. ‘He struck the clock’)

Alliteration

Repetition of the same starting sound in nearby words (e.g., “silent sky”).

Polysyndeton (polysyndetic listing)

The repeated use of coordinating conjunctions (like "and" or "or") in close succession to create a slowed-down, rhythmic effect.

Asyndeton (asyndetic listing)

The omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence or list, often used to speed up the pace or create an emphasized effect.

Tricolon (triadic listing)

A series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses that come in quick succession.

Sibilance

The repetition of soft ‘s’ or ‘sh’ sounds, often creating a hissing, sinister, or calming atmosphere. (eg. She sells seashells, he soft stream shushed)

Plosives

Harsh consonant sounds (like p, b, t, d, k, g) that create an abrupt, sharp, or explosive effect when read aloud.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas, images, or characters close together to highlight their differences.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech where two contradictory terms appear side by side (e.g., "deafening silence").

Personification

Giving human qualities or characteristics to something non-human, like an object or an animal.

Stative verb

A verb that describes a state of being or a feeling rather than a physical action (e.g., believe, love, seem).

Semantic field

A set of words that are all related to the same topic or theme (e.g., "battle," "soldier," and "artillery" create a semantic field of war).

Pathetic fallacy

A type of personification where the weather or atmosphere reflects the mood or emotions of a character or the poem’s tone.

Ambiguity

When a word or phrase has more than one possible interpretation, often used to create a sense of uncertainty or depth.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, or saying the opposite of what is meant.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the natural sound of a thing (e.g., "buzz," "hiss," "crack").

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.) to help the reader imagine the scene.

Lexical choice

The specific vocabulary a poet chooses to use to convey a particular meaning or tone.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or emotional effect.

Superlatives

Adjectives that show the highest degree of something (e.g., "tallest," "best"), used to show intense emotion.

Collective pronouns

The use of pronouns like "we," "us," or "our" to create a sense of unity, shared identity, or group experience.

Cyclical structure

When the end of a poem repeats or echoes the beginning, often suggesting a lack of change or a repetitive cycle.

Monosyllabic phrasing

The use of words with only one syllable to create a blunt, heavy, or simplistic effect.

Direct address

When the speaker talks directly to the reader or another character using the pronoun "you."

Visual imagery

Language used specifically to create a picture or "mental image" in the reader's mind.

Colloquialism

Informal, everyday language (slang). It makes the speaker feel relatable or grounded in a specific place.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word used to describe something harsh or blunt (e.g., "passed away" instead of "died").

Internal Rhyme

When words rhyme within a single line rather than at the end. It creates a fast, lyrical, or sometimes claustrophobic feel.

Stanza

Paragraphs of a poem