alliteration
repetition of initial consonant sounds
allusion
is a direct or indirect reference to a familiar figure
apostrophe
a figure of speech in which a person not present is addressed
assonance
a close repetition of similar vowel sounds, usually in stressed syllables
atmosphere / mood
the feeling that is created by a story or poem
cliche
an overused expression that has lost its intended force
connotation
the emotional suggestions attached to words
consonance
the close repetition of identical consonant sounds
denotation
the dictionary meaning of a word
extended metaphor
an implied comparison between 2 things which are essentially not alike
figurative language
language used in such a way as to force words out of they literal meanings by emphasizing their connotations
hyperbole
an exaggeration in the service of truth
idiom
a term or phrase that cannot be understood by a literal translation, but refers to a figurative meaning that is understood
imagery
the representation through language of sense experience
irony
a literary device that reveals contradictory meaning
dramatic irony
when the audience knows something a character or characters do not
situational irony
when the opposite of what is expected occurs
verbal irony
sarcasm or saying one thing but meaning another
jargon
language specific to a particular group
juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
literal language
what is said is based in reality without the comparisons used in figurative language
metaphor
a comparison between 2 things which are essentially dissimilar
meter
any regular pattern of rhythm based on stressed and unstressed syllables
metonymy
use of a closely related idea for the idea itself
onomatopoeia
the use of words which sound like what they mean
oxymoron
2 words placed close together which are contradictory, yet have truth in them
paradox
a statement in which there is an apparent contradiction which is actually true
personification
giving human attributes to an animal, object, or idea
rhyme
words that sound alike
rhyme sceme
any pattern of rhymes in poetry, each new sound is assigned the next letter in the alphabet
rhythm
a series of stressed or accented syllables in a group of words, arranged so that the reader expects a similar series to follow
simile
a comparison between 2 things using like or as
speaker
the "voice" which seems to be telling the poem, like a narrator
symbol
has a literal and figurative meaning - characters, objects, events and setting can all by symbolic if they represent something beyond themselves
theme
the central idea of the story, usually implied rather than directly stated
tone
is the poet's attitude toward his/her subject or readers - it is similar to a tone of voice
trope
a figure of speech in which a word is used outside its literal meaning - simile / metaphor are the 2 most common types
understatement
saying less than what you mean in the service of truth
regional dialect
distinct form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area