Poetic Terms for Mr. Smith’s 2nd 6 Week’ Exam
Alliteration – words that repeat the
same consonant sound
Imagery – an appeal to one or more of
the five senses
Allusion – a reference to another piece
of art or historical event
Limerick – humorous five line poem
where the rhyming pattern is AABBA
Anthology – a collection of literary,
artistic or musical works
Metaphor – figure of speech where
two different things are compared
Assonance – repetition of the same
vowel sounds
Octave – 8 line stanza
Blank verse – poetry written without
rhymes
Concrete poetry – poetry which forms
a structurally original visual shape
Palindrome – word or phrase where
the same letters go forward and
backward
Personification – metaphor where
human characteristics are given to a
non-human thing
Couplet – 2 line stanza
Enjambment – the carryover of one
line of poetry to the next without
grammatical break
Pun – a form of word play that
depends on similar sounding words
Quatrain – 4 line stanza
Epic – a long narrative poem with an
heroic theme
Refrain – a phrase, line, or group of
lines recurring in a poem
Figurative language – words or
phrases used to evoke mental images
Sestet – 6 line stanza
Figure of speech – words used outside
their literal meaning
Foot – two beats of poetry
Free verse – poem written without a
traditional meter or rhyming pattern
Haiku – Japanese poetry consisting of
three unrhymed lines of five, seven
and five syllables
Simile - figure of speech where two
different things are compared using
words such as like and as
Sonnet – 14 line poem with a static
rhyming pattern
Stanza – lines of poetry separated by a
space
Symbolism – when an object or
concept is used to represent another
object or concept
Hyperbole – deliberate overstatement
Iamb – a foot of poetry where the
accent is on the second beat
Tone – the poet’s attitude toward the
subject
Types of Irony:
Situational Irony – When the outcome is significantly different from what was expected or
considered appropriate. (such as a surprise ending)
Dramatic Irony – When a character's words or actions convey a meaning unperceived by the
character but understood by the audience. (such as we know something they don’t know)
Literary Terms:
Satire – literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn
Sarcasm – a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain (often appears in
quotes)
Hyperbole – wild exageration
Simile – two things compared for effect, but they are noted as being different
Metaphor – two things compared for effect, but they are treated as they are equal (though they are
not)
Dynamic Character – a character who changes significantly during a story, film or play
Monologue - a dramatic convention in which a speech is given by a single character, either
alone or to others
Soliloquy - a dramatic convention in which a speech is given by a character while or as if
alone; literally, "talking to oneself."
Paradox - a seemingly contradictory statement that on closer scrutiny reveals a deeper truth
(e.g., Life is but a dream.)
Non-Restrictive Clause – a descriptive clause that is not essential to the definiteness of the meaning
of the word it modifies (as who is retired in “my father, who is retired, does volunteer work”)
Prefixes:
BON – French for good (bon voyage)
POST – after (post-game interview)
PRE – before (pre-teen)
ANTI – opposed (anti-American)
RETRO – fashionable nostalgic (retro dress)