English Poetry Terms

Front 1

Alliteration

Back 1

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables, as in “on scrolls of silver snowy sentences” (Hart Crane). Modern alliteration is predominantly consonantal; certain literary traditions, such as Old English verse, also alliterate using vowel sounds.

Front 2

Allusion

Back 2

a reference to a work of literature or to a well-known historical event, person or place. Purpose of an allusion is to give us a fuller understanding of one thing by helping us see it in comparison with something else we may know better

Front 3

Assonance

Back 3

Repeition of vowel sounds in a group of words close together. Assonance is used most frequently in poetry, both within a single line or within a group of lines.

Hint 3

From the molten golden notes.

Front 4

Ballads

Back 4

A narrative poem that depends on regular verse patterns and strong rhymes for its effect.
Folk ballads originate as anonymous songs and passed on orally before being written down.
Literary ballad is composed by a known writer and it may or may not be sung.
(lots of action/adventure and most are tradgic)

Front 5

Blank Verse

Back 5

Verse written in unrhymed iambic pentameter that is with each line usually containing 5 iambs, which consist of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (u')

Hint 5

u ' u ' u ' u ' u '
When down her weedy trophies and herself
' u u ' u ' u '
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes
u '
spread wide,
u ' u ' u ' u ' u '
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up

Front 6

Connotation

Back 6

The suggested meaning of a work or phrase; the meanings and feelings that have become associated with the word, in addition to its explicit meaning.

Front 7

Couplet

Back 7

A pair of successive rhymed lines of poetry.

Hint 7

My father's friend came once to tea,
He laughed and talked. He spoke to me.
But in anoher week they said,
That friendly pink-faced man was dead.
"How sad," they said, "the best of men"
So I said too, "How sad"; but then,
Deep in my heart I thought, with pride,
"I know a person who has died."

Front 8

Denotation

Back 8

The explicit meaning of a word, as listed in a dictionary.

Front 9

Dialogue

Back 9

Conversation or speech amoung 2 or more characters.

Front 10

Epic

Back 10

A long narrative poem that usually centers on a singel important charater who embodies the values of a particular society.

Front 11

Exaggeration/Hyperbole

Back 11

Saying more than what is literally true, usually for humor or for emphasis.

Hint 11

One of the pleasantest and most invigorating exercises
One can contrive is to run and jump across
The Hum-bolt River till he is
Overheated and then drink it dry.
*(Humbolt is a very small river)

Front 12

Simile

Back 12

A direct comparison made between two unlike things, using a word of comparison such as like, as, than, such as, or resembles.

Front 13

Metaphor

Back 13

A comparison made between two things wich are basically dissimilar, with the intent of giving added meaning to one of them.

Hint 13

Slim dragon-fly
Too rapid for the eye
to cage.
Contagious gem of virtusity make visible mentality.
Your jewels of mobility reveal
a veil
a peacock tail.