poetry quiz Flashcards
allegory
a story with a double-meaning so it can be read/understood/interpreted at two or more levels
alliteration
the repetition of the same letter at the beginning of words
allusion
an indirect reference to another work of literature or art, person, or event intended to give depth
anaphora
the repetition of a word or phrase in successive clauses or phrases
assonance
the repetition of similar or identical vowel sounds, usually close together, to achieve a particular effect
caesura
when there is a pause within the line ( a breath), a change of gear (often by punctuation)
consonance
the repetition of similar or identical consonants before and after different vowels
end-stopping
when each line contains a single thought that finishes with the line (generally, with punctuation)
enjambment
when a line of poetry runs on (generally, without punctuation)
hyperbole
exaggeration for emphasis
metaphor
a comparison without like or as
meter
the heartbeat of a poem
metonymy
the name of an attribute or thing is used for the thing itself
paradox
a statement that is contradictory or illogical, but ultimately expresses a truth
pentameter
five poetic feet in a line of poetry
personification
giving something human quality
onomatopoeia
the use of words to imitate sound
oxymoron
opposite or contradictory terms used together for emphasis (ex: she’s pretty ugly)
reversal/substitution
the accent within a poetic foot (via the words being used) being altered so that the foot changes from, ex: iamb into a pyrrhus
similie
a comparison with like or as
synecdoche
the name of a part of a thing that stands for the whole
tetrameter
four poetic feet in a line of poetry
trimeter
three poetic feet in a line of poetry
weak ending
when a line of poetry concludes with an extra, hanging syllable
