Key terms (poetry specific) Flashcards
Tercet
Stanza consisting of three lines
Anaphora
Repetition at the start of the line in poetry
Enjambment
A poetic technique, when a sentence/phrase runs over more then one line (stanza). Or assist the flow of the poem
Metaphor
Comparison of two objects where one becomes another - adds layers of meaning about object being compared
Euphemism
Mild expression used to replace a harsh one
Irony
A gap between what is said and what is meant
Juxtaposition
Layering images/sciences to have a dramatic impact
Oxymoron
Two opposing words out together (pretty ugly, deafening silence)
Plosives
B, P, D, T, K - harsh sounds
Fricative
The use of ‘f’ sound
Sibilance
Repetition of ‘s’ sound
Simile
Comparison of two objects using ‘like’ or ‘as’
Syntax
Short, simple sentences or truncated sentences create tension, haste or urgency.
Compound or complex sentences are slower
Personification
A particular way of looking at individuals, issues, events, texts, facts etc.
Giving an inanimate object human abilities
Assonance
Repetition of vowels sounds within sentences
Allusion
An indirect reference
Foil
A character who is in the opposite way to another one
Motif
A reoccurring image or idea that has a deeper meaning
Allegory
Text that has a different meaning beyond the literal one
Iambic pentameter
rhythm of a small beat followed by a long one (daDUM daDum)
the emphasis is one the second beat
Blank verse
non rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter
Free verse
a work of poetry that has no defined structure of form (e.g. no rhyme scheme)
Anthropomorphism
The attributions of human characteristics to animals
Paradox
A statement or proposition that seems to be false when it reality has a lot of truth
Adjective
a word that describes a noun
Noun
A place, person or thing
Verb
a ‘doing’ word
Adverb
A word that describe how a verb is done (often ends in ly)
A compound word
A word that is made from two parts and joined by a hyphen
Monosyllabic
Words or phrases contains one syllable
Alliteration
Words that have the first starting letter next to each other
Volta
the turning point in a poem
Isolated stanza
a one line stanza
Incarcerating state
A state of imprisonment (being trapped)
Pathetic fallacy
the weather of the setting is used to reflect the mood of the scene
Caesura
a pause or stop (indicated by punctuation) in the middle of a line
Cyclical structure
The poem ends and starts in the same way or similar way (there’s a connection)
Auditory imagery
Imagery that links to sound and noise
Nomenclature
a pattern of language
Semantic field
related theme consistent through out a text
Asyndentic
Words are joined without the use of a conjunction but commas instead
