Poetry Glossary

Question 1

Anaphora

Answer 1

The repetition of the same word or expression at the beginning of successive
phrases, clauses, sentences or lines.

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

The repetition of the same consonant sounds at any place, but often at the
beginning of words.

Question 3

Assonance

Answer 3

The repetition of a pattern of the same vowel sounds.

Question 4

Caesura

Answer 4

A pause in a line of verse, usually denoted by the use of punctuation

Question 5

Conceit

Answer 5

An extended metaphor that runs throughout a poem and dominates its meaning.

Question 6

Couplet

Answer 6

A pair of lines that are the same length and (usually) rhyme.

Question 7

Elegy

Answer 7

A poem that laments the death of a person, or one that is simply sad and thoughtful.

Question 8

Enjambment

Answer 8

A sentence in a poem which straddles two lines. There is no punctuation used between the two lines.

Question 9

Feminine rhyme

Answer 9

A rhyme that ends with a final unstressed syllable, e.g. pleasure/leisure, longing, yearning.

Question 10

Hyperbole

Answer 10

Deliberate exaggeration that is used for emphasis.

Question 11

Imagery

Answer 11

The use of pictures, figures of speech and description in words to evoke ideas, feelings, objects, states of mind, etc.

Question 12

Litotes

Answer 12

A figure of speech in which a positive is stated by negating its opposite, e.g. no small victory, not a bad idea.

Question 13

Masculine rhyme

Answer 13

A rhyme that ends with a final stressed syllable, e.g. cat/hat, desire/fire, observe/deserve.

Question 14

Metaphor

Answer 14

The comparison of two things, usually by
saying one thing is another or by substituting a more descriptive word for the
more usual or common one that would be expected, e.g. all the world’s a stage, he
was a lion in battle, drowning in debt, a sea
of troubles.

Question 15

Metre

Answer 15

The measurement of the rhythm in poetry.

Question 16

Narrative

Answer 16

A poem that tells a story

Question 17

Onomatopoeia

Answer 17

Words which imitate sounds, e.g. buzz, hiss, zing, pop, splat, thump, etc.

Question 18

Personification

Answer 18

Non-human objects or abstract ideas which are given human attributes, e.g. the sky is crying, blind justice.

Question 19

Refrain

Answer 19

A phrase, line or group of lines that is repeated throughout a poem, usually after every stanza.

Question 20

Rhetorical question

Answer 20

A question which is asked simply for effect and to which no answer is expected.

Question 21

Rhyme scheme

Answer 21

The pattern that is made by the rhyme within each stanza.

Question 22

Simile

Answer 22

Comparison of two things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’, e.g. the sun looked like a bowl of custard, he is as tall as a tree.

Question 23

Stanza

Answer 23

Two or more lines of poetry that together form one of the divisions of a poem.

Question 24

Stress

Answer 24

The emphasis placed on certain syllables.

Question 25

Symbol

Answer 25

When a word, phrase or image represents
an idea or theme, e.g. a red rose could symbolise romantic love.

Question 26

Tone

Answer 26

The poet’s or speaker’s attitude towards the subject of the poem. Tone can also
refer to the overall mood of the poem.