Figurative Language
A comparison of two things using “like” or “as” Example: Paul Bunyan is as big as a mountain
Simile
A Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. It often reflects on some aspect of nature.
Haiku
Mental pictures that are created with words
Example: Soft snow falls steadily upon the slate tiled roofs
The fluffy flakes create a mound of white powder
Imagery or Sensory Details
The repeating of a word or phrase in a line or poem
Example: In my sleep, I dream; In my sleep, I believe; In my sleep, I mourn
Repetition or Refrain
The name for a poetic paragraph
Stanza
A comparison between two unlike things, this describes one thing as if it were something else. Does not use "like" or "as" for the comparison
Metaphor
a five-line witty poem with a distinctive rhythm. The first, second and fifth lines, the longer lines, rhyme. The third and fourth shorter lines rhyme. (A-A-B-B-A).
Limerick
The emotion you feel when you read a poem.
Mood
The repetition of beginning consonant sounds in words
Example: In the summer, the sun is strong
Sally sold seashells by the seashore
Alliteration
A kind of poem devoted to the high praise or love of a person, animal, or thing.
an Ode
a description of non-human objects or ideas using human characteristics
Example: The volcano sneezed
The clouds cried onto the blades of grass dancing in the wind
personification
A poem that does not follow any rules. Their creation is completely in the hands of the author. Rhyming, syllable count, punctuation, number of lines, number of stanzas, and line formation can be done however the author wants in order to convey the idea.
Free Verse
The feel of a word used; can be positive, negative or neutral.
Connotation
The repetition of vowel sounds in words
Example: paid, same, make, rain
Assonance
An indirect or passing reference.
Allusion
an exaggeration that something has either much more or much less of a quality than it actually has
Example: He runs so fast, he could catch a bullet
Hyperbole
a lengthy narrative poem in grand language celebrating the adventures and accomplishments of a legendary or conventional hero
Epic poem
An object or word used to represent an idea or quality.
Example: A dove represents peace.
Symbolism
The use of words that sound like the objects or actions they describe
Example: The boom of the thunder woke me from my nap
Onomatopoeia
a humorous play on words with double meanings. Example:
A pun
A phrase that combines two seemingly contradictory elements
Example: Icy hot; Jumbo shrimp; bittersweet
Oxymoron
Poems written to lament, or express sorrow for someone’s death.
Elegy
The continuation of a complete idea (a sentence or clause) from one line or couplet of a poem to the next line or couplet without a pause.
An example can be found in the first line of Joyce Kilmer's poem Trees:
“I think that I shall never see/
a poem as lovely as a tree.”
Enjambment
A pattern of rhymes ( in the poem below, the pattern is AA BB CC)
I do not like green eggs and ham (A)
I do not like them Sam I am (A)
I do not like them in a boat (B)
I do not like them with a goat (B)
I do not like them in a house (C)
I do not like them with a mouse (C)
Rhyme Scheme
the use of humor, witty language, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary political issues.
satire