1. Poetry Literary Terms

2. Hyperbole
A figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect
Example: “That guy is the hottest guy in the whole entire world!” Abby screamed.

3. Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Example from “The Raven”:
“Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing.
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

4. Onomatopoeia
Formation of words that imitate or suggest what they stand for; words that imitate or mimic a sound
Example: “swoosh,” “woof,” “slap!”

5. Imagery
Words that create mental images that appeal to one or more of the 5 senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell
Example – Ruby red blood

6. Symbol
A symbol is a person, a place, an object, or an activity that stands for something beyond itself.
“Symbolism” is the use of symbols within a work (literature, song, film etc)

7. Personification
Giving human or living attributes or qualities to something that is not human or alive
Ex – The wind whistled against the house.
The thunder roared in the valley.

8. Simile
A direct comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”
Examples:
The sun is hot like fire.
“Life is like a box of chocolates…” Forrest Gump

9. Metaphor A direct comparison between two unlike things
Example: “It is the East and Juliet is the Sun.”
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

10. Sonnet a lyric poem of 14 lines, commonly written in iambic pentameter
A Shakespearean sonnet consists of three quatrains (four line units) and a final couplet (two line unit)
The typical rhyme scheme is: abab cdcd efef gg

11. Iambic Pentameter
A metrical pattern of five feet (units) each of which is made up of two syllables. The first syllable is unstressed, the second stressed.
Example:
“My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand”

12. Lyric Poetry
A short poem in which a single speaker expresses personal thoughts and feelings. Most poems other than narrative are lyric poems.