POETRY TERMS & LITERARY TECHNIQUES

alliteration

the repetition of a sound at the beginning of words

allusion

a reference to something with which the reader is likely to be familiar

assonance

the repetition of a vowel sound in the middle of words

consonance

the repetition of a consonant sound in the middle of words

free verse

a poem that does not have a set rhyme scheme

hyperbole

an extreme exaggeration or overstatement that a writer uses for emphasis

idiom

a common phrase made up of words that can't be understood by their literal or ordinary meanings

imagery

using words or phrases that appeal to the reader's senses

lyrical poem

a song-like poem that may contain refrain, rhythm, and rhyme

metaphor

a figure of speech that compares two things without using "like" or "as

mood

the feeling or atmosphere a piece of literature creates in the reader

narrative poem

a poem that tells a story

onomatopoeia

the use of words that sound like the noises they describe

personification

a figure of speech in which a nonhuman thing is given human characteristics

repetition

repeating the same word, phrase, or stanza in a poem

rhyme

words that sound alike because they share the same ending

rhyme scheme

a pattern of rhyme

rhythm

the beat created by the sounds of the words in a poem

simile

a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as

slant rhyme

words that sound like they rhyme, but they are not exact (heart/dark)

stanza

a set of lines in a poem grouped together like paragraphs

symbolism

using a concrete or real object to represent an idea

tone

the attitude or feeling of the author that comes across in a poem

voice

the speaker of the poem, not necessarily the poet

structure

the organization of the parts of a poem