AP English Poetry Terms

Allegory

Similar to an extended metaphor; however it applies to the whole story

Alliteration

Reappeared initial consonant sounds

Alliterative verse

Use of alliteration for structure instead of rhyming

Allusion

A reference to literature, history or another place in the book

Analogy

Use of words or phrases that have the same meaning but are primarily different

Anaphora

Repeated language or expression at the beginning of phrases

Antithesis

Forces contrast between two words

Apostrophe

In poetry and plays; speaking to or addressing someone/something that isn't there

Assonance

Similar vowel sounds in non-rhyming words

Ballad

A short, simple, romantic, narrative

Blank verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter

Classicism

Sticking to classic form

Connotation

A socially accepted meaning

Closed couplet

Couplet which makes grammatical sense

Consonance

Repeated end consonant sounds in non-rhyming words

Couplet

Two lines that rhyme

Denotation

Dictionary definition of a word

Didactic

Literature that teaches

Diction

Word choice

Dirge

A poem/song about lament (sorrow)

Dissonance

Harsh sounds in poetry

Dramatic monologue

A one way conversation

Ellipsis

Used in poetry to show a pause or transition

End rhyme

Rhyming at the end of lines

Enjambment

The thought of one line runs into the next

Epitaph

A brief poem written on tombstones

Euphemism

A nice way of saying something harsh

Extended metaphor

Long metaphor

Feminine ending

Unstressed symbol at the end of a line

Figurative language

Language that's used beyond its actual meaning

Free verse

Unrhymed, unstructured poetry

Grave

Adding an accent to ed or end to add another syllable

Heroic couplet

Two rhyming lines in iambic pentameter

Homonym

Words that are spelled the same

Homophone

Words that are pronounced the same but are spelled different

Hymn

Religious song of praise

Hyperbole

Excessive exaggeration (purposeful)

Iambic

A fit with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

Idyll

A short, happy, country poem

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses

Internal rhyme

Rhyming within a line

Irony

When words convey a meaning opposite of what is expected

Jingle

A short catchy song

Line

A unit of poetry

Malapropism

For humour; to mistakenly use the wrong word which sounds similar

masculine rhyme

Ends in a stressed syllable

Measure

Unit of meter; foot

Metaphor

A direct comparison

Monosyllable

Single syllable word

Ode

A poem giving praise

Onomatopoeia

A sound word

Open couplet

Relies on the next line to make sense

Oxymoron

Words in opposition with accepted meaning

Paen

A hymn of praise

Parallelism

Repeated syntactic construction

Parody

Ridiculous imitation

Perfect rhyme

Identical end sounds

Personification

Giving human characteristics to an inanimate object

Polysyllable

More than one syllable

Quatrain

Four lines a verse

Quintet

Five line stanza

Refrain

Multiple repetitions of a line or verse

Rhetoric

The art of language

Rhetorical question

A question given for affect

Rhyme

Similar end sounds in words

Rhyme royal

A 7 line stanza that has the pattern ABABBCC

Rhyme scheme

A pattern of end rhyme

Simile

An implied comparison using like or as

Soliloquy

A dramatic monologue where the character reveals their secrets

Sonnet

Highly structured 14 line poem

Symbol

Something that stands for a greater meaning

Synaesthesia

The combination of senses

Synecdoche

Use the part to signify the whole or vice versa

Synonym

Two words that have similar meaning

Syntax

Sentence construction and grammar

Theme

Underlying meaning

Thesis

Unaccented part of a foot

Tone

The authors attitude

Verse

Poetry

Metonymy

Part symbolizes whole

Metonymy

Part symbolizes whole