Poetry Terms Flashcards
Metaphor
expression that describes person or object by referring to something considered to have similar characteristics to that person or object
Anaphora
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences
Enjambment
continuing of a sentence from one line of poem into start of next line
Caesura
pause in line of poetry, especially near middle of line
Alliteration
use of same sounds at beginning of several words that are close together
Imagery
use of words or pictures to describe ideas or situations
Stanza
Group of lines of poetry forming a unit
Simile
expression comparing one thing with another, always including words “as” or “like”
Apostrophe
A figure of speech in which a character or speaker addresses someone who is not there
Monologue
Theatrical term for a long speech from a character
Villanelle
five three-line stanzas and a final quatrain, with the first and third lines of the first stanza repeating alternately in the following stanzas
Sibilance
Hissing sound created by group of words through repetition of ‘s’ sounds
Litotes
The deliberate understatement for effect
Ambiguity
When lines can have multiple possible meanings or interpretations
Ballad
Poem that tells a story and has a musical quality
