General Terminology
The word choice of a writer or speaker; style of writing or speaking, as related to word choice.
What is diction?
This creates a contrast between how things are and how they seem to be.
What is irony?
The repetition of sounds in a sequence of words.
When a line ends with a punctuation mark and that meaning is complete.
What is end-stopped?
What is the first step to analyzing the content of a poem?
To read through the poem once before making any notes.
Two objects that are directly compared, usually including either “like“ or “as” in the comparison.
What is a simile?
A comparison between two disparate things that are not literally the same.
What is metaphor?
A group of lines separated from other groups of lines by white space.
What is a stanza?
The repetition of consonant sounds.
What is consonance?
What is the second step to analyzing a poem?
To go back through the poem and underline any words or phrases that seem to be valuable to the meaning of the text.
Descriptive or figurative language that attempts to evoke mental images by appealing to the reader’s sense.
What is imagery?
The attitude of a writer, narrator, or speaker toward the subject matter, as expressed by style, word choice, or demeanor.
What is tone?
The patterns of stresses, unstressed syllables, and pauses in language.
What is rhythm?
A repeated rhythm.
What is the third step to analyzing the poem?
If you notice any patterns or themes in the poem it is important to write them down.
A type of metaphor in which human attributes are assigned to inanimate objects.
What is personification?
The perspective from which the events of a story are reported to the reader or audience.
What is point of view?
The repetition of a word/phrase most commonly at the beginning of a line.
What is anaphora?
When a line runs on over to the next in order to complete its meaning.
What is enjambment?
What is the fourth step to analyzing poetry?
Highlight literary elements and terminology that add to the meaning of the poem’s message.
The repetition of similar grammatical structures within a sentence or passage, often for emphasis or to draw connections between objects.
What is a parallel?
An indirect reference to something outside the text, usually a person, place, thing, or idea that is generally familiar to the intended audience.
What is allusion?
A figure of speech where a smaller part of something is used to represent a whole.
What is synecdoche?
An audible pause included in a line, most commonly in the middle of a line.
What is caesura?
What is the fifth step to analyzing poetry?
Read the poem again and make sure to check that no important details are missing.