ELA poetry terms Flashcards
alliteration
the repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds, normally at the beginning of words.
‘Gnus never know pneumonia” ; all words begin with the “n” sound.
example of alliteration
allusion
a reference in a work of literature to something outside the work, especially to a well-known historical or literary event, person, or work.
types of allusions:
biblical, literary, historical, and mythological
antithesis
a figure of speech characterized by strongly contrasting words. one term against another
“The hungry judges soon the sentence sign,
And wretches hang that jury-men may dine”
Antithesis example
Apostrophe
A figure of speech in which someone, quality, or a nonexistent person is directly addressed as though presnet.
“Papa Above! Regard a mouse.”
example of apostrophe
assonance
the repition of identical or similar vowel sounds.
“A land laid waste with all its young men slain.” Repeats the same “a” sound
Example of assonance
Ballad meter
A four-line stanza rhymed “abcd” with four feet (8 syllables) in lines one and three, and three feet (6 syllables,) in lines two and four.
how many vowels in a “feet”?
two vowels.
other significations of a ballad
short narrative poem (tells story with characters.)
sentimental/romantic
blank verse
unrhymed iambic pentameter.
what is an iambic pentameter
a rhythmic pattern that consists of ten syllables per line, with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables.
cacophony
a harsh, unpleasant combination of sounds or tones, difficult to pronounce/say
“irks care the crop-full bird? Frets doubt the maw-crammed beast?”
example of a cacophony
caesura
a pause, usually near the middle of a line of verse.
“To err is human, to forgive divine”
example of caesura
Conceit
striking parallel between two seemingly dissimilar things. could be a brief metaphor or the framework of an entire poem.
consonance
The repetition of similar consonants in the endings of words, but the vowels that are before them are different.
“bill and ball”
example of consonance
couplet
a two line stanza, usually with end-rhymes the same. SONNETS.
devices of sound
the use of assonance, repetition, onomatopoeia, etc.
diction
the use of words/style: formal, informal, colloquial, or slang.
didactic poem
a poem intended to teach a lesson
elegy
formal poem about death/solemn theme
end-stopped
a line with a pause at the end. end with a period, a comma, exclamation point, or question mark
enjambment
the continuation of the sense and grammatical construction from one line of poetry to the next.
‘….Or if sion hill
Delight thee more, and siloa’s brook that flow’d
fast by the oracle of God,…”
example of enjambment
extended metaphor
implied analogy/comparision which is carried throughout a stanze/entire poem
euphony
a style with a combination of words that sound pleasant.
eye rhyme
rhyme that appears correct from spelling, but is actually half-rhyme or slant rhyme.
feminine rhyme
a rhyme of TWO syllables, one stressed and one unstressed.
“Waken”
example of feminine rhyme
free verse
poetry which is not written in a traditional meter but is still rhythmical.
heroic couplet
two end-stopped iambic pentameter lines rhymed “aa, bb, cc” usually completed in 2 lines.
“But when to mischief mortals bend their will,
How soon they find fit instruments of ill!”
heroic couplet example
hyperbole
exaggeration
imagery
the sensory details of a work: visual, auditory, tactile, ol factory, gustatory, kinesthetic, organic
what is ol factory in imagery?
what you can smell
gustatory?
what you can taste
organic?
creates specific feeling or emotion within the reader
