metaphor
a figure of speech where a comparison is made between two unlike quantities without the use of the words “like” or “as”
simile
a figure of speech which takes the form of a comparison between two unlike quantities for which a basis for comparison can be found, and which uses the words “like” or “as” in the comparison
extended metaphor
a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem without the use of the words “like” or “as”
conceit
a far-fetched simile or metaphor, it occurs when the speaker compares two highly dissimilar things
oxymoron
a combination of contradictory words
paradox
a situation or a statement that seems to contradict itself, but on closer inspection does not
hyperbole
a figure of speech in which an overstatement or exaggeration occurs
litotes
a figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed opposite
rhyme scheme
the pattern of rhymed words in a stanza or generalized throughout a poem, expressed in alphabetic terms
alliteration
used for poetic effect, a repetition of the initial sounds of several words in a group
assonance
the repetition of vowel sounds in a literary work, especially in a poem
imagery
a word or group of words in a literary work which appeal to one or more of the senses: sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell. the use of images serves to intensify the impact of the work
personification
a figure of speech in which something non-human is given human characteristics
allusion
a reference in one literary work to a character or theme found in another literary work
dialogue
in drama, a conversation between characters
dialect
the langue of a particular district, class, or group of persons
ballad
a story in poetic form, often about tragic love and usually sung.
they were passed down from generation to generation by singers
iambic pentameter
the most common verse line in English poetry. it consists of five verse feet, with each foot an iamb that is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable
free verse
unrhymed poetry with lines of varying lengths, and containing no specific metrical pattern
blank verse
a poem written in unrhymed iambic pentameter
sonnet
a lyric poem of fourteen lines whose rhyme scheme is fixed
ode
a poem in praise of something divine or expressing some noble idea
elegy
a lyric poem lamenting death
lyric poetry
a short poem where the poet expresses an emotion or illuminates some life principle
narrative poetry
a poem which tells a story, usually a long poem, sometimes even book length, it may take the form of a plot-less dialogue or it may consist of a series of incidents
dramatic monologue
in literature, the occurrence of a single speaker saying something to a silent audience
dramatic poetry
a narrative poem in which one or more characters speak. it consists of the thoughts or spoken statements (or both) of one or more characters other than the poet himself in a particular life situation