English Poetry Terms

Front 1

alliteration

Back 1

repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words near each other
i.e. white walls

Front 2

assonance

Back 2

repeated vowel sounds in words near each other
i.e. in eight great bounds

Front 3

consonance

Back 3

repetition of consonant sounds in the ending of words near each other
i.e. splits and passes

Front 4

cacophony

Back 4

a series of harsh diction and unpleasant sounds conveying disorder
i.e. i unpeel dead hands

Front 5

euphony

Back 5

series of musically pleasant sounds
i.e.

Front 6

onomatopoeia

Back 6

words which sounds like their meaning
i.e. booo

Front 7

repetition

Back 7

re use of words
i.e. a kindness, kindness

Front 8

rhyme

Back 8

words were ending sounds are alike
i.e.

Front 9

rhythm

Back 9

regular pattern of accented syllables separated by unaccented syllables , stressed and unstressed
i.e.

Front 10

meter

Back 10

refer to the pattern of rhythm
i.e. They always knew it was you. Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I'm through.

Front 11

syllabies

Back 11

a unit of pronunciation consisting of vowels within a word
i.e. pus-sy-cat

Front 12

metonymy

Back 12

a figured of speech, when a person or place is referred to by something in close relation to it
i.e. the white house stated

Front 13

oxymoron

Back 13

two words in combination that contradict each other
i.e. truly false

Front 14

paradox

Back 14

a statement which contradicts itself, reveals a greater meaning or truth
i.e. the faster I go the longer it takes me

Front 15

personification

Back 15

giving human characteristics to something that isn't human
i.e. Hurts me as the world hurts God

Front 16

pun

Back 16

words with different meanings that have similar sounds
i.e.

Front 17

simile

Back 17

comparison using like or as
i.e. lips like lies

Front 18

symbol

Back 18

something representing a greater meaning
i.e. the sun rose on a new day

Front 19

synecdoche

Back 19

indicating a person or object etc by letting a certain part represent the whole
i.e all hands on deck

Front 20

point of view

Back 20

author or speaker vantage point
i.e. i felt, or the boy saw

Front 21

speaker

Back 21

person through which poem is expressed
i.e. seen through pov, I am in control

Front 22

line

Back 22

sentence in a poem
i.e. bare-handed, i hand the combs.

Front 23

allusion

Back 23

brief reference a person, or historical event etc
i.e. the greek necessity

Front 24

ambiguity

Back 24

a word of phrase that can have multiple meanings
i.e. into the red eye

Front 25

analogy

Back 25

a comparison of familiar and unfamiliar things
i.e. the plumbing took a maze of turns where even water got lost.

Front 26

apostrophe

Back 26

speaking directly to a real or imaginary person of object
i.e. oh my!

Front 27

cliché

Back 27

figure of speech that is considered to be overused and out dated
i.e. what goes up must come down

Front 28

connotation

Back 28

non literal meaning
i.e. this clean wood box

Front 29

contrast

Back 29

different objects/diction used to compare people or objects
i.e. the other does that

Front 30

denotation

Back 30

literal meaning
i.e. this clean wood box

Front 31

euphemism

Back 31

understatement
i.e. she is at peace

Front 32

hyperbole

Back 32

over exaggeration
i.e. it was raining cats and dogs

Front 33

irony

Back 33

contradicting statement or situation that reveals a reality different from what appears to be true
i.e.

Front 34

metaphor

Back 34

direct comparison between to unlikely things stating one is or does an action towards the other
i.e. words

Front 35

stanza

Back 35

paragraph in poetry
i.e.

Front 36

rhetorical question

Back 36

question solely for effect
i.e. what is so real as the cry of a child?

Front 37

rhyme scheme

Back 37

pattern of rhymes

Front 38

enjambment

Back 38

continuation of line across separate stanzas
i.e. A red
shred in his little fist

Front 39

form

Back 39

arrangement used to convey content
i.e. free verse or blank verse

Front 40

free verse

Back 40

non specific form

Front 41

imagery

Back 41

vivid language evoking image to audience
i.e. in the windows, the mirrors

Front 42

synesthesia

Back 42

fusing senses in one line
i.e. sweetly sounding

Front 43

tone

Back 43

feelings conveyed by speaker
i.e. words are dry and riderless

Front 44

mood

Back 44

feelings conveyed by speaker
i.e. and the echoes!