Personal Poetry Glossary

Personal Poetry Glossary

Literary

Device

Definition

Examples….From a published poem, song, or an original example…

Refrain

A line or stanza (a group of lines) repeated regularly throughout a poem or song

Like in Sweet child of Mine when Axl goes back to singing “woah oh oh oh, Sweet child of miiine….”

Tone

The writer’s or narrator/speaker’s attitude toward the subject

In Catcher in the Rye the whole time Holden doesn’t really care so the tone of that would be simply laziness.

Imagery

Sensory details (the 5 senses) used to paint a picture in the reader’s mind

In The Stand by Stephen King when the people who escaped from the camp are expanding with blue and purple pus bubbles and are oozing mucus and blood out of their mouths.

Diction

Specific, vivid word choice (one word) used to grab the reader’s attention

In Obama’s speeches about tragic happenings such as in San Bernardino he uses very selective words to make sure he is getting his voice across to people without saying anything stupid or distracting.

Hyperbole

An EXTREME exaggeration used to create STRONG emotion

Simply a Fish tale when a fisherman says their fish was like double the length if not more than it actually was and they “had to let it go”.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, event, place, or literature (poem, book, play, movies)

As soon as I walked into the building, I knew I was in Gaga Land.

When I entered the school for the first time, I knew this was Paris Hilton territory.

Your example:

I walked into the gym as though I was a malnourished refugee in a tank of Arnold Schwarzeneggers.

Connotation

The suggested or implied meaning beyond the literal definition, the undertones…usually the word choice has a positive or negative connotation

Riots are seen as violent as protests are seen as a more peaceful version.

Symbol

Something that stands for something else beyond its literal definition

The sign of a dove means peace or tranquility

Onomatopoeia

Words that sound like their meaning

Boom, Crash, Woof, Meow, Kaboom, Crack

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds (beginning of words) in words that are close together. This creates rhythm.

Dunkin Donuts

Coca-Cola

Chuckie Chesses

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Krispy Kreme

Mickey Mouse

Donald Duck

Rhyme

Repeating vowel sounds – at the end of lines. This also is used to create rhythm.

“With the lights out, it's less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto

An albino

A mosquito

My libido” from Nirvana’s Smells like teen Spirit

Theme

The big idea or message  about life that the writer is trying to convey

The theme of catcher in the rye was to show that when it’s time to grow up do it because if you try to hide your just making it more awkward on yourself.

Anaphora

The repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of lines that are close together.

Like in a long group of prayers that all end in something like “Have mercy O’ God”

Assonance

The repetition of similar vowel sounds within a line. This is also called “internal rhyme.”

Within one line you will find rhyme.

Go and Mow the yard.

Consonance

The repetition of final consonant sounds (at the end of words) within one line of poetry

He was struck by a streak of bad luck.

She sells sea shells by the sea shore

Simile

A comparision using like or as

That dog was as big as a bear.

Metaphor

A comparison NOT using like or as

That sound was music to my ears.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is continued throughout the entire poem by giving multiple examples of the comparison

Her eyes are the sun that brightens my day.

When she looks at me….

Basically the whole of Sweet child of Mine during the verses when Axl is describing a woman.

Personification

Giving an object or natural element (tree, sun, grass) human qualities (like the ability to feel emotion or do something human: dance, play…)

The grass swayed back and forth like the hands of conductor.

Poetic Terms to Know – you don’t need to create an example…

Stanza

(and stanza breaks)

A group of lines that are purposefully grouped together on the page (similar to a paragraph in prose writing).

Line

(and line breaks)

The basic organizing unit of a poem (purposeful line breaks may emphasize a word, or affect the pace of the poem).

Shift

Change in tone, time, or speaker