Poetry Terms
Who or what is the “speaker” in a poem?
The voice or persona delivering the poem (not necessarily the author)
What is a simile?
A comparison using “like” or “as”
What literary device is used in the line: “The wind whispered through the trees”?
Personification
What is a sonnet?
A 14-line poem, often written in iambic pentameter
What is theme in poetry?
The overall message or insight about life
What is the term for a shift in tone, mood, or perspective within a poem?
Volta (or shift)
What is personification?
Giving human characteristics to nonhuman things
What literary device is used in the line: “Her smile was as bright as the sun”?
Simile
What is a haiku?
A poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure
In literary analysis, what does “function” refer to?
Why the author uses a specific technique
What is tone in poetry?
The speaker’s attitude toward the subject
What is a paradox?
A contradiction that reveals a deeper truth
What literary device is used in the line: “Time is a thief that steals our moments”?
Metaphor
What is a narrative poem?
A poem that tells a story
What is the effect of enjambment in a poem?
It creates flow, continuation, or emphasis across lines
What is meter in poetry?
The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line
What is a metaphor?
A direct comparison where one thing is another
What literary device is used in the line: “I’ve told you a million times”?
Hyperbole
What is a villanelle?
A poem with a strict structure and repeated lines (refrains), often about loss or obsession
Why might a poet use irregular structure or meter?
To reflect meaning, emotion, or disruption
What is a caesura?
A pause within a line of poetry, often created by punctuation
What is synecdoche?
A figure of speech where a part represents the whole
What literary device is used in the line: “The pen is mightier than the sword”?
Metonymy
What is a pastiche?
A work that imitates the style of another as a tribute
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone is the speaker’s attitude; mood is the reader’s emotional response