Common Poetic Literary Terms

Common Poetic Literary Terms

Multiple Choice

What is assonance?

• a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.

• repetition of vowel sounds within words, such as "Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese"

• A figure of speech which endows animals, ideas, or inanimate objects with human traits or abilities

Multiple Choice

What is alliteration?

• a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.

• the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue. Forms include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain’t").

• The similarity of ending sounds existing between two words

Multiple Choice

What is allusion?

• Specific word choice that an author deliberately makes in order to create a certain meaning, mood, or effect.

• Refers to the writer's attitude towards the subject of a literary work as indicated in the work itself.

• when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many make reference to previous works of literature or art.

Multiple Choice

What is personification?

• A figure of speech which endows animals, ideas, or inanimate objects with human traits or abilities

• an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.

• when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types in literature -- verbal, situational, and dramatic

Multiple Choice

What is colloquialism?

• Refers to the writer's attitude towards the subject of a literary work as indicated in the work itself.

• The similarity of ending sounds existing between two words

• the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue. Forms include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain’t").

Multiple Choice

What is diction?

• Specific word choice that an author deliberately makes in order to create a certain meaning, mood, or effect.

• the repetition of consonant sounds. This repetition is not limited to initial consonant sounds Example:"...and high school girls with clear skin smiles..."

• when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types in literature -- verbal, situational, and dramatic

Multiple Choice

What is tone?

• the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.

• The similarity of ending sounds existing between two words

• Refers to the writer's attitude towards the subject of a literary work as indicated in the work itself.

Multiple Choice

What is rhyme?

• a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."

• when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types in literature -- verbal, situational, and dramatic

• The similarity of ending sounds existing between two words

Multiple Choice

What is consonance?

• a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."

• the repetition of consonant sounds. This repetition is not limited to initial consonant sounds Example:"...and high school girls with clear skin smiles..."

• an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.

Multiple Choice

What is hyperbole?

• the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.

• when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types in literature -- verbal, situational, and dramatic

• an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.

Multiple Choice

What is imagery?

• when an author describes a scene, thing, or idea so that it appeals to our senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, or hearing). This device is often used to help the reader clearly visualize parts of the story by creating a strong mental picture.

• a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.

• the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.

Multiple Choice

What is irony?

• when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types in literature -- verbal, situational, and dramatic

• a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. This device is often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox

• an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.

Multiple Choice

What is juxtaposition?

• This is what the poem is all about. It is the central idea that the poet wants to convey. It is a universal truth -- something that anyone can relate to, and it should never be too specific or include character names.

• the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.

• a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."

Multiple Choice

What is a metaphor?

• when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).

• a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.

• when ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it’s when an author compares one thing to another. The two things being described usually share something in common but are unalike in all other respects.

Multiple Choice

What is a simile?

• when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).

• the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.

• a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."

Multiple Choice

What is mood?

• the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.

• Refers to the writer's attitude towards the subject of a literary work as indicated in the work itself.

• repetition of vowel sounds within words, such as "Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese"

Multiple Choice

What is onomatopoeia?

• an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.

• a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.

• The similarity of ending sounds existing between two words

Multiple Choice

What is oxymoron?

• when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types in literature -- verbal, situational, and dramatic

• refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to represent something else—typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal meaning.

• a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. This device is often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox

Multiple Choice

What is theme?

• This is what the poem is all about. It is the central idea that the poet wants to convey. It is a universal truth -- something that anyone can relate to, and it should never be too specific or include character names.

• Refers to the writer's attitude towards the subject of a literary work as indicated in the work itself.

• Specific word choice that an author deliberately makes in order to create a certain meaning, mood, or effect.

Multiple Choice

What is repetition?

• the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue. Forms include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain’t").

• when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).

• a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.

Multiple Choice

What is symbolism?

• the repetition of consonant sounds. This repetition is not limited to initial consonant sounds Example:"...and high school girls with clear skin smiles..."

• A figure of speech which endows animals, ideas, or inanimate objects with human traits or abilities

• refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to represent something else—typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal meaning.