Semester exam review Terms Flashcards
Free Verse
poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
Blank Verse
verse without rhyme, esp. that which uses iambic pentameter.
Assonance
the repetition of the sound of a vowel
Allusion
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly
Aphorism
a pithy observation that contains a general truth
Canto
one of the sections into which certain long poems are divided.
Sestet
A stanza with six lines.
Euphony
the quality of being pleasing to the ear, esp. through a harmonious combination of words.
ex.the phrase “cellar door” is reportedly the most pleasant sounding phrase in the English language.
Metonymy
the practice of substituting the main word with a word that is closely linked to it.
EX. The “sword” stands in for “military aggression and force.”
Irony
the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite
Oxymoron
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction
ex. He possessed a cold fire in his eyes.
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Paradox
a statement or proposition that leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.
Synecdoche
syn·ec·do·che
a figure of speech in which a physical part is made to represent the whole or vice versa
ex. The word “sails” is often used to refer to a whole ship.
ex. If “the world” is not treating you well, that would not be the entire world but just a part of it that you’ve encountered.
Cacophony
a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
