English Poetry Definitions

Question 1

What is alliteration?

Answer 1

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are closely related

Question 2

What is Analogy?

Answer 2

One whole situation is used to represent another

Question 3

What is Connotation

Answer 3

A word suggests something in addition to its ordinary meaning
Eg, Father, dad, daddy

Question 4

What is ellipsis

Answer 4

The use of 3 dots… usually indicates a pause

Question 5

What is Euphemism

Answer 5

A polite or softer way of saying something

Question 6

What is humour

Answer 6

Used to elicit a response from the audience

Question 7

What is hyperbole

Answer 7

Exaggeration for effect

Question 8

What is Imagery

Answer 8

Poets use words to create mental images. Imagery is referring to how the poet chooses words to create specific mental images

Question 9

What is Irony

Answer 9

When what is said isn’t quite what it is meant. Sarcasm is a form of irony

Question 10

What is Juxtaposition

Answer 10

When two things are placed side by side to emphasise their differences.

Question 11

What is metaphor

Answer 11

Comparing/identifying one thing directly with another

Eg, his eyes are the stars in the sky

Question 12

What is modality

Answer 12

Word choice for specific effect

Question 13

What is onomatopoeia

Answer 13

The word itself mimics the sound it is making

Question 14

Opposites

Answer 14

Not all words have absolute opposites

Question 15

Oxymoron

Answer 15

Two words together that’s don’t usually go together or are opposites
Eg, the screaming silence

Question 16

What is persona

Answer 16

Where the poet writes from another person or thing’s point of view. The voice in the poem-the character that the author/poem adopts

Question 17

What is personification

Answer 17

Human qualities/emotions given to non-human things

Question 18

What is repetition

Answer 18

When something is stated more than once in a poem

Words,phrases, lines and stanzas

Question 19

What is a rhetorical question

Answer 19

A question that is asked for effect that doesn’t require an answer

Question 20

What is rhyme

Answer 20

The last syllable of the line has the same sound as that of another line

Question 21

What is rhythm

Answer 21

The beat of the poem usually used to enhance meaning or tone

Question 22

What is simile

Answer 22

A comparison using like or as

Question 23

What is structure

Answer 23

The way the poem is put together -the sequence

Question 24

What is a stanza

Answer 24

Called a verse in a song the poem is broken into stanzas

Question 25

What is theme

Answer 25

What the poem is actually about- the ideas and attitudes in the poem

Question 26

What is tone

Answer 26

The overall mood of the poem is created through tone often described in emotions
- sad, optimistic,solemn,peaceful,sarcastic