Poetry and Literary Terms Review

Imagery

Using descriptive language to appeal to the reader's senses and create vivid mental pictures.

Line break

The point where a poet chooses to end one line and start a new one.

Anagram

A word or phrase formed by rearranging the exact letters of a different word or phrase.

Denotation

The literal, objective, and neutral definition of a word.

Connotation

The implied, subjective, and emotional baggage a word carries.

Tone

The author's or speaker's attitude toward the poem's subject.

Mood

The emotional feeling or atmosphere created for the reader.

Contrast

Deliberately using contrasting images or ideas to make them stand out.

Slant rhyme

A poetic technique or imperfect rhyme where words share similar, but not identical, vowel or consonant sounds (e.g., cold, made), which may include alliteration, consonance, or assonance.

Internal rhyme

When rhyming words occur within the same line, or across the middle of nearby lines, rather than exclusively at the ends of lines.

Run-on lines

Lines that don't end at a natural pause, like punctuation, but instead "run-on" to the next line.

End-stopped lines

Lines that end at a natural pause, particularly with punctuation.

Cacophony

The intentional use of harsh, discordant, and unmusical