Poetry Terms
Theme The big idea that the writer wants the reader to gain from the literature. Theme is a truth about life, not a moral or a single word topic.
Imagery Language that appeals to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. Ex- “Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;/ Three fields to cross till a farm appears;/ A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch/ And blue spurt of a lighted match…”
Figurative Language Use of the language that describes one thing in terms of another and is not mean to be understood on a literal level.
Metaphor Comparison between two unlike things that is stated directly. There is no connecting word. “Her face was a brown moon that shone down on all of us.”
Simile Figure of speech comparing two things using a connecting word such as “like, as, than…” “She sings like a hound.”
Personification A special kind of metaphor in which a nonhuman thing or quality is given human traits. “The sun smiled down on the earth.”
Hyperbole Exaggeration to express strong emotion or create comic effect. Ex- “I’m so hungry I could eat a scabby-headed kid.”
Speaker The voice that talks to the reader. It is NOT always the writer.
Characterization How the writer reveals the personality of a character to the reader. There are 5 ways. D-direct (author tells the reader) A-actions (what the ch does) R-reactions of other chs to this ch T-thoughts (of the ch) S-speech (of the ch)
Conflict A struggle between opposing forces. Man vs. Self- Internal. Within the mind of the character. Man vs. Man- External. Between 2 chs. Man vs. Society- External. Ch is against a group. Man vs. Nature- External. Ch against the natural elements. Man vs. Supernatural- External. Ch against un-natural forces.
Alliteration Repetition of similar consonant sounds at the beginning of words. “Open here I flung the shutter, when with many a flirt and flutter,”
Connotation All the meanings, associations or emotions that a word suggests. Scrawny, skinny, slender
Diction A writer’s or speaker’s choice of words. Often reflects his tone.
Tone Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject or a character.
Mood The feeling that the reader gets from reading a piece of writing.
Allusion Reference to a statement, a person, place or an event from literature, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, science or pop culture.
Sonnet Fourteen line lyric pole usually written in iambic pentameter. Either structured as an Italian with an octet (octave) and a sestet or as a Shakespearean with three quatrains and a concluding couplet.
Symbol Person, place or thing that stands for itself and for something beyond itself.
Rhyme Scheme The pattern of rhyme in a poem. Can include exact rhymes (moon, June) and approximate rhymes (hollow, mellow).
Onomatopoeia Use of words that sound like what they mean.