Poetry Vocabulary

The repetition of the same consonant sounds at any place, but often at the beginning of words.

• Alliteration

• Assonance

• Onomatopoeia

• Tone

The repetition of the same word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences or lines.

• Anaphora

• Couplet

• Hyperbole

• Narrative

The repetition of a pattern of the same vowel sounds.

• Assonance

• Denotative

• Refrain

• Stanza

A pair of lines that are the same length and (usually) rhyme.

• Couplet

• Imagery

• Metaphor

• Rhyme scheme

Relating to the secondary or suggestive meaning of a word in addition to its literal meaning.

• Connotative

• Alliteration

• Denotative

• Personification

Relating to the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word.

• Denotative

• Connotative

• Simile

• Tone

A poem that laments the death of a person, or one that is simply sad and thoughtful.

• Elegy

• Anaphora

• Refrain

• Stanza

Deliberate exaggeration that is used for emphasis.

• Hyperbole

• Assonance

• Narrative

• Metaphor

Descriptive sensory language.

• Imagery

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

• Rhyme scheme

The comparison of two things, usually by saying one thing is another

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Couplet

• Denotative