English poetry terms

Abstract

Ideas stripped of physical detail. A description of qualities. Examples: peace, justice, war.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sound in words that are close to one another. Examples include "sweet and sour" and "gaggle of geese". Alliteration occurs most often at the beginnings of words.

Allusion

A reference to a statement, person, place, event, or thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, sports, science, or pop culture. For example: "Like Midas, I guess / everything we touch turns / to a poem". Here the allusion is to King Midas in Greek mythology who turns everything he touches to gold.

Anaphora

The repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginnings of consecutive lines.

Assonance

The repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds within words, phrases, or sentences.

Audience

The person or group to whom the words or actions are directed.

Cacophony

The word cacophony describes harsh, discordant, probably loud noises, and it's only rarely applicable to textual writing, especially polished works of art. Nevertheless, sometimes authors and poets do piece together words that are cacophonous if read aloud to make a particular point.

Connotation

The implied or suggested meaning of a word.

Concrete

Specific words used to describe experiences through your senses. Examples: smoke, mist, a shout. Concrete images are used to express abstract ideas.

Consonance

The repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds within words, phrases or sentences.

Euphony

The opposite of cacophony, euphony is the grouping of harmonic, pleasing sounds. Much poetry is naturally euphonic, engendered by such devices as alliteration and consonance.

Figurative Language

Language that is always based on some kind of comparison that is not literally true.

Free Verse

Poetry that has no regular meter or rhyme scheme.

Hyperbole

An exaggeration often used for comic effect."I'd give my right arm for a piece of pizza" is not intended to be taken literally and the exaggeration is used to emphasize the truth about something.

Image

Figurative language used to describe objects, actions and ideas in a way that appeals to our physical senses. A collection of descriptions appealing to the five senses is called the imagery of the poem. Types of imagery: tactile (touch), visual (sight), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), auditory (sound)

Irony

Using a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or expected meaning. There are three kinds of irony: Dramatic irony is when the reader or audience sees a character's mistakes or misunderstandings, but the character does not. Verbal irony is when the writer says one thing and means another. Situational irony exists when there is a great deal of difference between the purpose of a particular action and the result (the result is contrary to what was intended).

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things without using the connective words like, as, than, or resembles. An extended metaphor is a metaphor that is extended, or developed, over several lines of writing or even throughout an entire poem.

Metonymy

Figure of speech in which the name of the object being described is substituted for something closely related to it. For example, 'the crown' is often substituted for 'the monarchy'. Other examples include 'the press' for newspapers and 'the bench' for the judiciary.

Mood

The feeling a piece of literature arouses in the reader. Examples: happiness, fear.

Onomatopoeia

The use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning: buzz, knock, splash and bark.

Oxymoron

Two words together which seem contradictory, but whose meaning expresses a truth or dramatic effect: cool fire, deafening silence, wise folly.

Personification

A figure of speech in which nonhuman things or abstract ideas are given human attributes: the sky is crying, dead leaves danced in the wind, blind justice.

Quatrain

A stanza or poem of four lines.

Repetition

A rhetorical device reiterating a word or phrase, or rewording the same idea.

Rhetorical Question

A question solely for effect, with no answer expected. The answer is obvious. It is a means to emphasize and is stronger than a direct statement; for example: "Ode to the West Wind,... O, Wind, / If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? (Shelley)

Rhyme

The repetition of the identical or similar stressed sound or sounds. End rhymes occur at ends of poetic lines. Internal rhymes occur within poetic lines. Near rhyme is an imperfect, or half rhyme—an almost rhyme that can occur in the middle of lines, like the words 'date' and 'fade.'

Rhyming Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.

Rhyme Scheme

Any pattern of rhyme that occurs through a whole poem or its stanzas. The pattern of rhymed lines in a poem is called its rhyme scheme.

Rhythm

A recognizable and varying pattern in the beat of the stresses or accents in a line of poetry. In metered verse there is a regular rhythm, whereas in free verse the rhythm is often varied. Repetition of words or accented syllables can create rhythm.

Simile

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things by using a connective word such as like, as, or than.

Speaker

The voice used by a poet to speak a poem. The speaker is often a created identity (a made up self) and should not automatically be equated with the author.

Stanza

A group of consecutive lines in a poem that form a single unit.

Symbol/Symbolism

A symbol is a person, place or thing (something concrete) that stands for an abstract idea. Water can symbolize purity. Light (as in sunlight) is often used to symbolize knowledge or truth.

Synecdoche

Figure of speech in which a part stands in for the whole. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, ears stand in for the whole person: 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.'

Theme

The main idea, concept, message or area of concern explored by a writer. Themes should be written in the form of a statement. Example: (The theme is that) we cannot truly understand others until we know ourselves. A theme statement may be the text's main idea and your opinion about it: Theme \= Idea + Opinion

Tone

The author or poet's attitude or feeling toward a person, a thing, a place, event or situation.

Verse

Another term for poetry (as opposed to prose).

Synesthesia

Combining more than one type of imagery to describe an experience. (Ex. The glistening, white cake tasted very sweet --\> Gustatory imagery & visual imagery