Click elements for definitions
exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally
repeating a word or phrase for emphasis
a word used to name a person, place or thing
a word that describes an action, state or occurrence
a sentence that asks a question
a sentence with one independent clause (a subject and a verb)
a particular type of poem with 14 lines and a formal rhyme scheme
a poem that is serious and thoughtful in tone and has a precise, formal structure
the continuation of a sentence over two lines (a run-on line)
a pause in the middle of a line of poetry or prose
the emphasis that falls on certain syllables and not on others
a statement formed as a question that isn’t intended to be answered
the use of grouping or describing in threes to add power
language that is symbolic or metaphorical and not to be taken literally
visually descriptive or figurative language to create a picture for the reader
a comparison of two things, using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
a comparison of two things by saying one thing is the other
giving an object or animal human qualities
an implication or association attached to a word or phrase (cf. denotation)
the literal meaning of a word, as opposed to any ideas it suggests (cf. connotation)
a word that describes or modifies a noun
a word that describes or modifies a verb
a sentence that gives a command, starting with a verb
a sentence with two or more independent clauses
a poem that pictures country life in a peaceful, idealized way
a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead
poetry without formal meter or rhyme patterns
the ‘movement’ or beat (of a poem) created through meter and stress
the regular use of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry
language that is used to create certain emotions in the listener
a word or phrase that emphasises point, such as ‘definitely’ or ‘certainly’
a combination of seemingly opposing terms in the same idea
the placing of two contrasting things close together
a reference to another event, person, place or work of literature
exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally
a play on words that have similar sounds but quite different meanings
a mild expression used to replace something more offensive or rude
a word that shows the relationships between things
a word that joins single words, phrases or sentences
a sentence that expresses an opinion, statement or announcement
a sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
a Japanese poem of 17 syllable in three lines of 5, 7, 5 syllables each
a poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet, often musically
a four-line stanza or grouping of four lines in a verse
the blocks of lines into which a poem is divided (sometimes called ‘verses’)
a phrase, line or group of words repeated throughout a poem
a short or interesting story about a real incident or person
use of words like ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘us’ to make a reader feel involved
repetition of an initial consonant sound in a sequence of words
repetition of vowel sounds in a sequence of words
a word whose sound reflects its meaning
the use of words with a hissing ‘s’, ‘sh’ or ‘z’ sound
the spitting sound that is produced by the ‘p’, ‘b’, ‘t’, ‘k’, ‘d’ and ‘g’ sounds
the attribution of human emotions are given to the weather or nature
the expression of a meaning by using language that signifies the opposite
a word that stands in for somebody or something previously mentioned
a word that comes before a noun to help define it
a sentence expressing great emotion (surprise, anger), ending with ‘!’
a group of words that form part of a sentence, containing a subject and predicate
a poem that narrates a story in short stanzas
a poem that urges the reader to live for the moment and “seize the day”
corresponding sounds in words, usually at the end of lines (though not always)
the rhyming of words within a line, rather than at the end of lines
a pair of successive rhymed lines
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
using the same structural pattern of words in a series of clauses
a punctuation mark used at the end of sentence
a punctuation mark used to separate clauses or items in a list
a punctuation mark used to indicate possession or the omission of letters
a punctuation mark indicating a question
a punctuation mark indicating something amusing, surprising or spoken loudly
brackets used to indicate direct speech
a punctuation mark used to indicate the omission of word(s)
a punctuation mark used before a list, a quotation or an explanation
a punctuation mark used to indicate a break between two clauses
a punctuation mark used to mark a pause or break in sense
brackets used to mark an explanation or an afterthought