Poetry Terminology Flashcards
Poet
The one who creates poetry
Speaker
The voice behind the poem; the person the reader imagines reading the poem out loud.
Characters
A character can be a person, animal, or just a figure represented in the poem
Setting
Where the action takes place, and in which time frame
Stanza
The division of a poem that consists of two or more arrangements of lines
Line
A subdivision of a poem; specifically a group of words arranged into a row that ends for a reason other than the right-hand margin
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of a series of words
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds without repeating consonants (sometimes called a vowel rhyme)
Consonance
A resemblance in sound between two words, or an initial rhyme
Metaphor
When a subject is described as being the same as another unrelated object
Simile
The subject of a poem that is compared to another object or subject. For example, “she’s as fast as a cheetah”
Hyperbole
The intentional use of exaggeration for emphasis
Imagery
Elements of the poem that provokes the creation of a mental image
Personification
When animals, plants, or inanimate objects are given human qualities
Symbolism
Something in a poem such as a person, object, place, or event that represents more than just its literal meaning
