Poetry Handbook Definitions

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words or syllables.

Example: over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the…

Author’s Purpose

The intention of the writer. The purpose of a writing piece maybe to entertain, to explain, to describe, to persuade, or a combination of these four.

Example: In Crossing Jordan, Adrian Foglin’s purpose was to entertain, explain, and describe.

Description

Writing that seeks to convey the impression of a setting, a person, an animal, an object, or an event by appealing to the senses (touch, smell, hear, sight, taste)Example: “She shut her eyes and felt the sand being wiped off her face by something that seemed like a warm…damp flannel…it was a tongue.” What sense is being appealed to here?

Extended metaphor

An implied comparison that continues through an entire poem.

Metaphor

A type of figurative speech that compares seemingly unlike things. In contrast to a simile, a metaphor implies the comparison instead of stating it directly; therefore, it does not use like or as.Example: “The moon was a ghostly galleon tosses upon cloudy seas…” What two things are being compared?

Topic = Main Idea

The important idea expressed in a paragraph, poem, or essay. Normally it is stated within the written work, but not always.

Example: In “The Teacher Who Changed my Life,” the main idea is stated in the title.

Mood

The emotional quality or atmosphere of a story or poem. Elements like setting, descriptive writing, and characterization to name a few will help you figure out what the mood is of a writing piece.

Onomatopoeia

The use of a word or a phrase that actually imitates or suggests the sound of what it describes.

Example: Crash! Boom! Bang! Meow.

Personification

A type of figurative language in which an animal, object, or an idea is given human form or characteristics.

Example: All the main characters from Kung Fu Panda are examples.

Special note: sometimes personification and metaphors are being used at the same time.

Point of View

The relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story. 1st person: the story is told by one of the characters, referred to as “I.” Limited 3rd person: the narrator reveals the thoughts of only one character, but refers to that character as “he” or “she.”Omniscient point of view: the narrator is all knowing of all characters’ thoughts and reveals this information to us the readers.

Repetition The repeating of sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas in a speech or piece of writing.

Repetition increases the feeling of unity in a work.

When a line or stanza is repeated in a poem or song, it is called a refrain.

Consonance- the repetition of consonant sounds

Assonance- the repetition of vowel sounds

Rhyme

The repetition of sounds at the end of words that appears close to each other in a poem.End rhyme- occurs at the end of linesInternal rhyme- occurs within a single lineSlant rhyme- occurs when words include sounds that are similar but not identical

Rhyme scheme

The pattern of rhyme formed by the end rhyme in a poem. The rhyme scheme is shown through a series of letters to represent the pattern.

Example: abcb is the rhyme scheme for:Mary had a little lamb …..a

Its fleece was white as snow,…..b

And everywhere that Mary went…..c

The lamb was sure to go. …..b

Rhythm

The pattern created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Gives poetry a musical quality that helps convey its meaning

Rhythm can have a predictable pattern or an irregular pattern (as in free verse)

Simile

A type of figurative speech that uses like or as to compare seemingly unlike things.

Example:

“The snow fell hissing in the brine,

And the billows frothed like yeast.”

Stanza

A group of lines forming a unit in a poem; they are the paragraphs of a poem.

Theme

The main idea behind a writing piece is usually expressed as a general statement.

A theme usually states some truth, as the author sees it, about life or human nature.

Stated theme- expressed directly in the writing. (rarely)

Implied theme- when the reader must infer from what the author writes. Titles can give clues. (commonly used)

Tone

Attitude of the narrator toward the subject, ideas, theme, or characters of the text they are writing.

Tone is conveyed through the author’s use of words.

Example: Edgar Allan Poe’s tone toward his poem “Annabel Lee” is that of despair.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for dramatic effect

Example: “all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this (murderer’s) hand”

Graphics

The capital letters, line length, word position of text in writing that add to the meaning of the writing piece.