Freshman English Poetry Terms

Front 1

verse

Back 1

a single line of poetry

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stanza

Back 2

more than one verse of poetry

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rhyme scheme

Back 3

pattern of rhyme in a poem

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refrain

Back 4

a repeated verse in a poem

Front 5

repetition

Back 5

a repeated word, idea, or image in a poem

Front 6

free verse

Back 6

poem with no established rhyme scheme.

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metaphor

Back 7

implied comparison between 2 things

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simile

Back 8

direct comparison between 2 things using like or as.

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hyperbole

Back 9

exaggeration for effect.

Front 10

mood

Back 10

the way that a piece of writing makes the reader feel

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assonance

Back 11

repitition of vowel sounds

Front 12

imagery

Back 12

writing that appeals to any senses, especially sight

Front 13

figurative language

Back 13

language not meant to be taken literally

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cliche

Back 14

overused or tired expression

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alliteration

Back 15

repition of consanant sounds.

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personification

Back 16

giving human qualities to non-human beings.

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allusion

Back 17

reference to something well known

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couplet

Back 18

2 lines that rhyme

Front 19

dramatic irony

Back 19

a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience and reader know to be true.

Front 20

conflict

Back 20

a struggle between opposing forces, the problem

Front 21

iambic pentameter

Back 21

a ten syllable line in which unstressed syllables are followed by stressed syllables.

Front 22

blank verse

Back 22

unrhymed verse written in iambic pentameter, or ten syllable lines in which every second syllable is stressed.

Front 23

prose

Back 23

a form of written language esxpressed in sentences and paragraphs

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couplet

Back 24

a pair of rhyming lines usually of the same length and meter.

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sonnet

Back 25

14 lined lyric poem usually written in rhymed iambic pentameter.

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dramatic foil

Back 26

a character contrasted with another character; they are usually complete opposites

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personification

Back 27

when a nonhuman subject is given human qualities or characteristics

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soliloquy

Back 28

a long speech expressing the innermost thoughts of a character. The soliloquy is delivered when the character is on stage

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monologue

Back 29

a speech by a character in a play, story, or poem. The character is not necessarily alone on stage.

Front 30

aside

Back 30

a short speech delivered by an actor in a play expressing the character's thoughts. Usually inaudible to other actors on stage.

Front 31

petrarchan lover

Back 31

an individual who's in love of being in love