Literary TermsLiterary Terms

PoetryPoetry

Lyric PoemLyric Poem

A short poem that expresses the thoughts A short poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker. Can be and feelings of a single speaker. Can be put to music.put to music.

Dramatic PoemDramatic Poem

A poem which brings about strong emotion. A poem which brings about strong emotion. Characters are revealed through dialogue Characters are revealed through dialogue and monologue. and monologue.

Narrative PoemNarrative Poem

Any writing that tells a story. Any writing that tells a story.

StanzaStanza

A group of lines that forms a unit in a poem. A group of lines that forms a unit in a poem.

Blank VerseBlank Verse

An unrhymed poetry written with an An unrhymed poetry written with an alternating pattern of five unstressed and alternating pattern of five unstressed and stressed syllables per line.stressed syllables per line.

Free VerseFree Verse

Poetry without regular patterns of rhyme or Poetry without regular patterns of rhyme or meter. It often sounds like everyday meter. It often sounds like everyday conversation when read.conversation when read.

Archaic LanguageArchaic Language

Language that is old-fashioned and out-of-Language that is old-fashioned and out-of-date.date.

RhythmRhythm

The pattern of accented and unaccented The pattern of accented and unaccented syllables in poetry. Brings about the syllables in poetry. Brings about the musical quality.musical quality.

EX. “Hopscotch”EX. “Hopscotch”

RhymeRhyme

The repetition of accented vowel sounds in The repetition of accented vowel sounds in words that are close together. words that are close together.

End rhyme comes at the end of a line.End rhyme comes at the end of a line.

Internal RhymeInternal Rhyme

The use of rhyming words within the same The use of rhyming words within the same line of poetry, or lines that are close line of poetry, or lines that are close together.together.

Refrain (Chorus)Refrain (Chorus)

A word, line, or group of lines that is A word, line, or group of lines that is repeated regularly in a poem or song.repeated regularly in a poem or song.

EX. And miles to go before I sleep.EX. And miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep.And miles to go before I sleep.

AlliterationAlliteration

The repetition of beginning consonant The repetition of beginning consonant sounds. It is used to emphasize words, to sounds. It is used to emphasize words, to reinforce meaning, and add sound effects.reinforce meaning, and add sound effects.

AssonanceAssonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within two or The repetition of vowel sounds within two or more words that are close together.more words that are close together.

ConsonanceConsonance

The repetition of final consonant sounds; The repetition of final consonant sounds; helps to unify poetry and prose while also helps to unify poetry and prose while also providing interesting sound patterns. providing interesting sound patterns.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

The use of a word whose sound imitates its The use of a word whose sound imitates its meaning. (hiss, buzz)meaning. (hiss, buzz)

Ex. Whoosh, zip, zing, popEx. Whoosh, zip, zing, pop

ParallelismParallelism

A technique by which a writer expresses A technique by which a writer expresses ideas of equal importance in phrases or ideas of equal importance in phrases or sentences that are worded in similar ways.sentences that are worded in similar ways.

ConnotationsConnotations

Emotional overtones attached to words. Emotional overtones attached to words. Meanings associated with a word other Meanings associated with a word other than dictionary meaning. Can be positive, than dictionary meaning. Can be positive, negative, or neutral.negative, or neutral.

ContrastContrast

A technique used to show how two or more A technique used to show how two or more things are different.things are different.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Language that conveys ideas beyond the Language that conveys ideas beyond the literal, or ordinary, meaning. Figure of literal, or ordinary, meaning. Figure of speech.speech.

MetaphorMetaphor

A figure of speech that compares two unlike A figure of speech that compares two unlike things that have something in common. It things that have something in common. It makes a description more interesting.makes a description more interesting.

SimileSimile

a comparison between two unlike objects a comparison between two unlike objects using key words; such as: like, as, using key words; such as: like, as, resemble, than.resemble, than.

Ex. Quick as a cat.Ex. Quick as a cat.

Hot as a firecracker.Hot as a firecracker.

PersonificationPersonification

Giving qualities of a human being to an Giving qualities of a human being to an object, animal, or idea.object, animal, or idea.

Ex. He gives his harness bells a shake to Ex. He gives his harness bells a shake to askask if there is some mistake. if there is some mistake.

HyperboleHyperbole

A figure of speech in which an exaggeration A figure of speech in which an exaggeration is made for emphasis or humorous effect.is made for emphasis or humorous effect.

OxymoronOxymoron

Combines opposite or contradictory terms in Combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phase.a brief phase.

Ex. Wolfish lamb, idiot savant, wise fool, Ex. Wolfish lamb, idiot savant, wise fool, love hate relationshiplove hate relationship

ImageryImagery

Details that appeal to a reader’s senses, Details that appeal to a reader’s senses, often in a startling way. Usually these often in a startling way. Usually these details are visual ones.details are visual ones.

MoodMood

The feeling created by the writer in a literary The feeling created by the writer in a literary work. Events, descriptive details, and work. Events, descriptive details, and setting all contribute to mood.setting all contribute to mood.

SonnetSonnet

A poem consisting of fourteen lines, usually A poem consisting of fourteen lines, usually in iambic pentameter.in iambic pentameter.

CaesuraCaesura

A strong grammatical pause within a line of A strong grammatical pause within a line of poetry.poetry.

CoupletCouplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.

OdeOde

An elaborate lyric poem using elevated, An elaborate lyric poem using elevated, dignified language and an imaginative, dignified language and an imaginative, intellectual tone.intellectual tone.

End- StoppedEnd- StoppedLinesLines

Lines of poetry that conclude with strong Lines of poetry that conclude with strong marks of punctuation.marks of punctuation.

Dramatic MonologueDramatic Monologue

A lyric poem featuring one-sided A lyric poem featuring one-sided conversation in a dramatic setting, conversation in a dramatic setting, providing insight into the speaker’s providing insight into the speaker’s character.character.

Carpe DiemCarpe Diem

Latin for “seize the day”, a common poetic Latin for “seize the day”, a common poetic theme stressing the fleeting nature of theme stressing the fleeting nature of youth and beauty.youth and beauty.

SymbolismSymbolism

In literature, an object, person, situation, or In literature, an object, person, situation, or action that, in addition to its literal meaning action that, in addition to its literal meaning suggests other meanings as well.suggests other meanings as well.

IronyIrony

A situation, or use of language, involving A situation, or use of language, involving some kind of incongruity or discrepancy: a some kind of incongruity or discrepancy: a difference between what is said and what difference between what is said and what is meant, what a character thinks and what is meant, what a character thinks and what the reader know to be true, appearance the reader know to be true, appearance and reality, expectation and fulfillment.and reality, expectation and fulfillment.

Run-on LinesRun-on Lines

Lines of poetry in which the grammatical Lines of poetry in which the grammatical sense flows on past the end of one line sense flows on past the end of one line

into the next line.into the next line.

Off-Rhyme or Slant RhymeOff-Rhyme or Slant Rhyme

An inexact or imperfect rhyme, usually used An inexact or imperfect rhyme, usually used for intentional emphasis.for intentional emphasis.