Mrs Miholic English II Honors (Poetry Terms)

Alliteration

the repetition of initial constant sounds (Sally Sells Sea Shells By The Sea Shore)

Simile

a comparison of two unlike items using like or as (As pretty as the sun)

Metaphor

a comparison of two unlike things not using like or as / saying something is something else (He is a cheetah on the football field)

Parallelism

the repetition of the same grammatical structure / it is used for emphasis or effect (I like camping, hiking, and fishing)

Oxymoron

placing contradictory words side by side for effect (Jumbo Shrimp)

Juxtaposition

using contradictory ideas or elements in a writing (talking about hate at the beginning of the essay and ending talking about love)

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement (I am so hungry I could eat a horse)

Onomatopoeia

when the word creates the sound (Bzzzzzzzzzzz) (write in ALL CAPS)

Euphemism

substituting a less offensive word or a less harsh word to make something easier to hear (Their company was downsizing instead of you're fired!)

Inversion

to rearrange the usual syntax order {order of words in a sentence} (the red house - the house red) (depends on the language) (happy I am)

Allusion

a reference to a literary work, art work, famous person, or anything universally known. (Michael Jackson)

Synecdoche

the part represents the whole/often a body part (all EYES on me) (can you give me a HAND)

Metonymy

to substitute a word that is closely related to what you mean. (Presley, the office wants you/the office does not want her, the people there do) (the white house has issued a statement/meaning the president, not the actual white house.)

Apostrophe

to directly address someone or something that is not present/ often it is an inanimate object/ don't use God.