1. Poetry Analysis Terms
J. King
April 2009

2. Simile A comparison using like or as.
Ex: he is as mean as a junkyard dog.
Ex: “…She would be as swift in motion as a ball…” Romeo and Juliet (2.5.13)

3. Metaphor
A figure of speech in which one this is described in terms of another.
Ex: The river is a winding ribbon moving down the mountainside.
Ex: “…and Juliet is the sun.” Romeo and Juliet (2.2.3)
Ex: “…the mask of night is on my face.” Romeo and Juliet (2.2.85)

4. Personification
The attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects
Ex: The arms of the rainbow stretched across the sky.
“The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night…” Romeo and Juliet (2.3.1)

5. Hyperbole
A figure of speech which contains an exaggeration for emphasis
Ex: She almost exploded with excitement
Ex: “There is no world without Verona walls...” Romeo and Juliet (3.3.17)

6. Idiom
A form of expression, construction or phrase peculiar to a language and often possessing a meaning other than its grammatical or logical one
Ex: A Blessing In Disguise: Something good that isn't recognized at first
Ex: A Chip On Your Shoulder: Being upset for something that happened in the past.

7. Onomatopoeia The formation and use of words to imitate sounds.
Ex: The tinkling sound of the bells rang out.
Ex: The tires screeched when he hit the brakes.
Ex: “…Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn.” Romeo and Juliet ( )

8. Oxymoron
A figure of speech which combines incongruous and apparently contradictory words and meanings for special effect.
Ex: Dodge Ram
Ex: Jumbo Shrimp
Ex: “..O brawling love, O loving hate…” Romeo and Juliet ( )

9. Symbol
An object, animate or inanimate, which represents or ‘stands for’ something else.
Ex: Dove=peace
Ex: Lion=strength or power
Ex: Rose=beauty

10. Allusion
Usually an implicit reference, perhaps to another work of literature or art, to a person or an event,
Ex: “Christy didn’t like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.” (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)
Ex: “Like the prodigal son, he returned to his home town and was welcomed by all who knew him.” (The Bible, Luke 15:11-32)

11. Rhyme
The repetition of accented vowel sounds and all sounds following them.
Ex: Choice/Voice
End Rhyme: Occurs when the rhyme is at the end of two lines of poetry.
Ex: “Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard.”
Internal Rhyme: occurs when the rhyme is within a single line of poetry
Ex: “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I wandered weak and weary.”
Slant Rhyme: means that he two words are alike in some sound but do not rhyme exactly.
Ex: It little hurts me now to know.

12. Assonance
Consists of the repetition of similar vowel sounds, usually close together, to achieve a particular effect of euphony
“The Lotos blooms below the barren peak:
The Lotos blows by every winding creek:
All day the wind breaths low with mellower tone
Thro’ every hollow cave and alley lone,
Round and round the spicy downs the yellow Lotos-dust is blown.
Lotos-Eaters by Tennyson

13. Consonance
The close repetition of identical consonant sounds before and after different vowels.
Ex. Slip—Slop
Ex. Creak—Croak
Ex. Black—Block

14. Alliteration
A figure of speech in which consonants , especially at the beginning of words, or stressed syllables, are repeated.
Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Ex. “…Hunting thee hence with hunt’s up to the day.” Romeo and Juliet (3.5.34)

15. Denotation
The most literal and limited meaning of a word, regardless of what one may feel about it or the suggestions and ideas it connotes.
Ex: Apartheid denotes a certain form of political, social, and racial regime. It connotes much more.

16. Connotation The suggestion or implication evoked by a word or phrase
Ex: “There is a cockroach.”
May inspire a shudder or distaste in one person , but a scientific inquiry, like “What is it?” in another person.

17. Pun A figure of speech which involves a play upon words.
Ex: “Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man.” spoken by Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet
The word grave is a pun because it means both_____ and ______.

18. Theme The central idea of a work. Ex: Othello=Jealousy
Ex: Romeo and Juliet=Love, Death, Light/Darkness
Ex: The Odyssey=Hospitality

19. Tone/Mood
The reflection of a writer’s attitude (especially towards his readers), manner, mood and moral outlook in his work; even perhaps the way his personality pervades the work.

20. Imagery
Occurs when language appeals to one or more of the five senses.
Ex: “How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night.” Romeo and Juliet
This line appeals mostly to the sense of ___.
Ex: “O that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek.” Romeo and Juliet
This line appeals mostly to the sense of___.