figurative language

metaphor a comparison between two unlike things

simile a comparison between two things using the word like or the word as

personification human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea

hyperbole the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or for effect

apostrophe an object, an abstract quality, or an absent or imaginary person is addressed as if present and able to understand

oxymoron two contradictory words are found next to each other

diction a writer’s or speaker’s choice of words and way of arranging the words in sentences

imagery descriptive words or phrases that recreate sensory experiences for the reader

sound devices

alliteration repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

onomatopoeia use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings

consonance repetition of consonant sounds within and at the ends of words

assonance repetition of vowel sounds in two or more words that don’t end with the same consonant

repetition a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis

end rhyme rhyme that occurs at the end of lines of poetry

near rhyme / slant rhyme end rhymes that are not exact

internal rhyme rhyme that occurs within a single line

meter pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry (provides rhythm)

rhythm beat or flow of a poem – sound created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables

iambic meter in which one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable equal a foot of poetry

pentameter meter in which one line of poetry consists of five feet of poetry (a foot of poetry is usually two or three syllables)

form

stanza group of lines that form a unit in a poem

couplet two lines of poetry with end rhyme

quatrain a four-line stanza

parallelism use of phrases, clauses, or sentences that are similar in structure or meaning

type

epic poem a long poem that tells a story; usually serious and traces the adventures of a great hero

narrative poem a poem that tells a story

ballad a poem that focuses on one incident and was originally intended to be sung

lyric poem a short poem in which a single speaker expresses personal thoughts and feelings

sonnet a short poem with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter and a set rhyme scheme

haiku a three-line poem that is usually about nature and follows a strict number of syllables per line

elegy an extended poem in which the speaker reflects on death, often in tribute to a person who has recently died