Poetic language Flashcards
simile
a comparison made using the words “like” to “as”
eg: like the smell of smog - Where I come from by Elizabeth Brewster
Metaphor
a comparison - made directly or indirectly without using “like” or “as”
eg: people are made of places
- where I come from by Elizabeth Brewster
Extended metaphor
when the metaphor is continue throughout the poem
eg: Go and open the door - The Door by Miroslav Holub
personification
giving human characteristics to something which is not human
eg: the moon hurts me the sea weeps me - Homeland by Sophia De Mello Breyner
onomatopoeia
words which attempt to imitate sounds
alliteration
a repetition of consonant consonant sounds
eg: full of threats, full of thunders - Below the Green Corrie by Norman MacCaig
plosive
“b”, “p”, “t” and “d” sounds - which can be harsh, aggressive or shocking
sibilance
repeated “s” sounds - most often caused by “s” “ss” and “c”. these can be harsh, smooth or sickly.
assonance
a repetition of words, phrases or clauses
anaphora
a repetition of phrases, words, or clauses
juxtaposition
two things being placed together for contrasting effect
oxymoron
a figure of speech in which two contradictory things are placed together in a way which makes peculiar sense. For example, “friendly fire”.
semantic field
a set of words relating to the same topic. “foul” and shot would appear in the semantic field of sports.
pathetic fallacy
when a character’s feelings, thoughts or emotions are displayed through the environment around them. for example, when a character is depressed and its raining.
anachronism
a person or object placed in an inappropriate time.
