Key Literary Terms in Poetry

Alliteration

Alliteration

repetition of the same consonant at the beginning of words

Assonance

the repetition of identical or similar consonant or vowel phonemes in words or syllables that occur close together

Ballad

a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas that is traditionally set to music

Elegy

a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead; a poem written in elegiac couplets

Extended metaphor

when a writer compares unrelated objects or ideas with figurative language for more than a sentence

Figurative language

the use of words in a way that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison

Free verse

any form of poetry that does not rely on consistent patterns of rhyme and meter

Form of poem

the overarching structure or pattern of the poem

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

Imagery

the use of pictures or words to create images, esp. to create an impression or mood

Irony

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Lyric poetry

a short poem, often with songlike qualities, which expresses personal emotions or feelings

Metaphor

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not applicable

Ode

a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter

Refrain

a line, phrase, or single word that is repeated periodically within the poem to build up drama, emphasis, or rhythm

Satire

a poem that uses irony, humor, or exaggeration to criticize an aspect of contemporary society

Simile

a comparison between two essentially unlike things using words 'such as,' 'like,' and 'as'

Sonnet

a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter adhering to a set rhyming scheme

Symbolism

the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or events

Tone

a literary device that conveys the author's attitude toward the subject, speaker, or audience of a poem

Didactic

Poetry that instructs, either in terms of morals or by providing knowledge of philosophy, religion, arts, science, or skills

Diction

the language, including word choice and syntax, that sets poetry apart from more utilitarian forms of writing