Literary Terms (Poetic Terms): A Brief Overview

 Literary Terms

Poetic Terms: A Brief Overview

Elements of Poetry

Meter: The rhythmic pattern of a poem, often determined by the number of syllables in each line.
Rhyme: The repetition of sounds at the ends of words.
Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem.
Stanza: A group of lines in a poem.

Types of Poetry

Lyric: A poem that expresses personal emotions or feelings.
Narrative: A poem that tells a story.
Dramatic: A poem that is intended to be performed.
Epic: A long narrative poem that tells the story of a hero.

Poetic Devices (Figures of Speech)

Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words.
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words.  
Imagery: The use of vivid language to create mental pictures.
Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as."
Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as."  
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.  
Symbolism: The use of objects or images to represent abstract ideas.
Hyperbole: An exaggeration for effect.
Understatement: A statement that minimizes the importance of something.
Oxymoron: A combination of contradictory terms.
Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory but is actually true.
Irony: A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

Sound Devices

Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds they represent.
Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words, especially at the ends of words.
Cacophony: The use of harsh, discordant sounds.
Euphony: The use of pleasant, harmonious sounds.

Poetic Forms

Haiku: A Japanese poem with 17 syllables, usually in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.
Sonnet: A 14-line poem, usually in iambic pentameter, with a specific rhyme scheme.
Ode: A poem that celebrates a person, place, or thing.
Ballad: A narrative poem, often with a simple rhyme scheme and a repetitive refrain.
Villanelle: A 19-line poem with a fixed rhyme scheme and refrain.

Explanation

1. Apostrophe:

Apostrophe is a rhetorical device in which a poet directly addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a personified object. This creates a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity. For example, in John Donne's "Death, be not proud," the speaker addresses Death as if it were a person.

2. Allusion:

An allusion is a brief reference to a well-known person, event, place, or work of art, often from literature, history, mythology, or religion. Allusions enrich a poem by bringing additional meaning and context. For example, T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land" contains numerous allusions to classical literature, mythology, and the Bible.

3. Alliteration:

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely placed words. It is often used to create rhythm, mood, or emphasize certain words. An example is "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers," where the 'p' sound is repeated.

4. Assonance:

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words. Unlike alliteration, which focuses on consonants, assonance deals with the sound of vowels. An example is the phrase "The early bird catches the worm," where the 'e' sound is repeated.

5. Allegory:

An allegory is a narrative in which characters, events, and settings symbolize broader concepts or moral qualities. In poetry, allegories often convey hidden meanings through metaphorical storytelling. A famous example is Edmund Spenser’s "The Faerie Queene," where characters represent various virtues and vices.

6. Aubade:

An aubade is a poem or song that greets the dawn, typically expressing regret at the parting of lovers at daybreak. It is often associated with themes of love and the passing of time. John Donne’s “The Sun Rising” is an example of an aubade.

7. Antithesis:

Antithesis is a rhetorical device in which two opposing ideas are juxtaposed in a balanced manner, often in parallel structures. This contrast highlights the differences between the ideas and can create a powerful effect. An example is in the phrase “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” from Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities.

8. Anaphora:

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines, sentences, or clauses. It is often used to create emphasis, rhythm, and a sense of urgency. For example, in Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, "I have a dream" is repeated at the beginning of several successive sentences.

9. Ballad:

A ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story, often in a straightforward and dramatic manner. It is traditionally composed of quatrains with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB and often includes dialogue. Ballads were originally composed for oral performance and often focus on themes of love, tragedy, or adventure. An example is the traditional ballad "Barbara Allen."

10. Blank Verse:

Blank verse is poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. It closely mimics the natural rhythms of English speech and has been used by many poets and playwrights, including William Shakespeare in his plays and John Milton in Paradise Lost. Despite the lack of rhyme, the regular meter gives blank verse a rhythmic and formal quality.

11. Couplet:

A couplet is two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme and have the same meter. Couplets can stand alone or be part of a larger poem, and they often provide a sense of closure. For example, in Shakespeare’s "Sonnet 18," the concluding couplet is:
 "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."

12. Cacophony:

Cacophony refers to the use of harsh, discordant sounds in poetry. It’s often employed to convey a sense of chaos, conflict, or discomfort. The combination of these jarring sounds can create an unsettling effect. An example can be found in Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky”: “Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!”

13. Chiasmus:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures, creating a mirror-like effect. It is often used for emphasis or artistic effect. For example, "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You" is a chiasmus.

14. Dramatic Monologue:

A dramatic monologue is a type of poem in which a single speaker addresses a silent listener, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and personality in a specific situation. The speaker often inadvertently reveals more about themselves than they intend, offering insights into their character. Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a classic example, where the Duke reveals his arrogance and jealousy while describing a portrait of his late wife.

15. Elegy:

An elegy is a mournful or reflective poem, typically lamenting the loss of someone or something. It often expresses sorrow, grief, and a sense of loss, but it can also offer consolation. Famous examples include Thomas Gray’s "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" and Walt Whitman’s "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," written after Abraham Lincoln's assassination.

16. Epigram:

An epigram is a brief, witty, and often satirical poem that usually makes a humorous or pointed statement. It is characterized by its brevity and cleverness. A classic example is by Oscar Wilde:
"I can resist everything except temptation."

17. Enjambment:

Enjambment occurs when a sentence or phrase runs over from one line to the next without a terminal punctuation mark. It allows the thought to continue beyond the limits of a single line, creating a sense of flow and urgency. For example: "The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits;—on the French coast the light"
(from Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach").

18. Elegiac Stanza:

An elegiac stanza is a quatrain written in iambic pentameter with an ABAB rhyme scheme. It is often used in elegies, which are poems mourning the loss of someone or something. The measured rhythm and formal structure of the elegiac stanza contribute to the solemn tone of such poems. Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" employs this stanza form.

19. Epithalamion:

An epithalamion is a poem written in celebration of a wedding. Traditionally, it is addressed to the bride and groom and expresses joy and blessings for their marriage. The form was popular in ancient Greece and Rome and has been adapted by many poets over the centuries. Edmund Spenser's "Epithalamion," written for his own wedding, is a famous example.

20. Euphony:

Euphony is the use of pleasant, harmonious sounds in poetry. It is often achieved through the use of long vowel sounds, soft consonants, and smooth, flowing rhythms. Euphony creates a musical quality in poetry that is pleasing to the ear. An example of euphony can be found in John Keats’s "Ode to a Nightingale": “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.”

21. Epiphany:

In literature, an epiphany is a moment of sudden revelation or insight experienced by a character, often leading to a deeper understanding of themselves or the world around them. In poetry, an epiphany can occur when a speaker comes to a profound realization. An example of an epiphany can be found in James Joyce's works, although it is more common in prose, it is sometimes employed in narrative poetry.

22. Free Verse:

Free verse is a type of poetry that does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. It gives the poet more freedom to express thoughts and emotions without the constraints of traditional forms. Free verse poems often rely on natural speech patterns and can vary greatly in length and structure.

23. Hyperbole:

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or effect. It is not meant to be taken literally but is used to convey strong feelings or create a dramatic impact. An example is "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," where the speaker exaggerates their hunger.

24. Heroic Couplet:

A heroic couplet consists of two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter, often used in epic and narrative poetry. Heroic couplets were popularized by poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Alexander Pope. They are called "heroic" because they were often used in epic poetry, which traditionally dealt with heroic subjects. Pope’s The Rape of the Lock is written entirely in heroic couplets.

25. Image:

In poetry, an image is a vivid or descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Images create mental pictures and evoke emotions, helping to bring a poem to life. For example, in Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," the imagery of a "yellow wood" and "two roads diverged" paints a clear picture of the setting.

26. Irony:

Irony in poetry involves a discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs. It can be verbal, situational, or dramatic. An example of verbal irony is in Robert Frost’s poem "Fire and Ice," where the speaker discusses the world's end with an understated tone that contrasts with the severity of the subject.

27. Lyrics:

A lyric is a short poem that expresses personal thoughts and feelings, often in a musical and emotional tone. Unlike narrative poetry, which tells a story, lyrics focus on the internal emotions of the speaker. Common subjects include love, loss, and nature. Classic examples include the lyrics found in William Wordsworth's "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey."

28. Meter:

Meter is the structured rhythm of a poem, determined by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line. Different types of meter, such as iambic pentameter (five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables), give poems a specific rhythmical pattern. For instance, Shakespeare often used iambic pentameter in his sonnets.

29. Metaphor:

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. It doesn't use "like" or "as," which distinguishes it from a simile. For example, in the phrase "Time is a thief," time is metaphorically compared to a thief, suggesting it steals moments from our lives.

30. Metonymy:

Metonymy is a figure of speech where something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it. It’s often used for brevity and poetic effect. For example, "the crown" can be used to represent the monarchy, or "the White House" can refer to the U.S. presidency or the executive branch of the government.

31. Onomatopoeia:

Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate the sounds they describe. These words help bring a poem to life by appealing to the reader's auditory sense. Examples include words like "buzz," "clang," and "whisper."

32. Ode:

An ode is a type of lyrical poem that is formal and often ceremonious. It usually addresses and praises a person, thing, or event. Odes are known for their exalted style and elaborate structure. Famous examples include John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" and Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind."

33. Personification:

Personification is a literary device where human qualities are given to animals, objects, or abstract ideas. It helps make descriptions more relatable and vivid. For example, in the phrase "The wind whispered through the trees," the wind is given the human ability to whisper.

34. Pastoral:

Pastoral poetry idealizes rural life and landscapes, often focusing on the lives of shepherds and the simplicity of nature. This genre celebrates the beauty of the countryside and the innocence of its inhabitants, contrasting it with the corruption of urban life. Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is a well-known example of pastoral poetry.

35. Poetic Justice:

Poetic justice is a literary device where virtue is ultimately rewarded and vice is punished, often in a manner that is particularly fitting or ironic. It refers to the idea that the good are rewarded and the wicked are punished by the outcome of the narrative, as if by a just and moral force. For example, in Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth's ambition leads to his downfall, serving as poetic justice for his treacherous actions.

36. Quatrain:

A quatrain is a stanza of four lines, often with a specific rhyme scheme like ABAB, AABB, or ABCB. Quatrains are common in English-language poetry and are used in various forms, including ballads and sonnets. The quatrain is a versatile form that can convey a wide range of emotions and themes.

37. Rhyme:

Rhyme is the repetition of similar sounds at the end of lines in poetry. Rhymes can be exact, as in "cat" and "hat," or slant, where the sounds are similar but not identical, as in "near" and "air." Rhymes help to unify a poem and often contribute to its musical quality.

38. Refrain:

A refrain is a repeated line or group of lines in a poem, typically at the end of a stanza or between stanzas. It creates rhythm and reinforces the theme or mood of the poem. A well-known example is in Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven," where the word "Nevermore" is repeated throughout.

39. Stanza:

A stanza is a grouped set of lines within a poem, often separated from other stanzas by a blank line. Stanzas in poetry are similar to paragraphs in prose, and they often share a common rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. For example, a quatrain is a four-line stanza.

40. Sonnet:

A sonnet is a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter, with a specific rhyme scheme and thematic structure. There are two main types of sonnets: the Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet, which divides the poem into an octave and a sestet, and the English (Shakespearean) sonnet, which consists of three quatrains followed by a couplet. Sonnets often explore themes like love, time, and mortality. William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 18" ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") is one of the most famous examples.

41.Symbol:

A symbol in poetry is an object, person, place, or action that stands for something beyond its literal meaning. Symbols are often used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. For example, in William Blake's "The Lamb," the lamb symbolizes innocence and purity.

42. Simile:

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as." Similes make descriptions more vivid by drawing connections between different objects or ideas. For example, "Her smile was as bright as the sun" compares a smile to the brightness of the sun.

43. Sestet:

A sestet is a six-line stanza or the final six lines of a sonnet in the Italian (Petrarchan) form. The sestet typically provides a resolution or response to the problem or question posed in the preceding octave. For instance, in John Milton’s sonnet "When I Consider How My Light is Spent," the sestet offers a resolution to the poet's struggle with blindness.

44. Sonnet Sequence:

A sonnet sequence is a series of sonnets connected by a common theme or subject, often exploring different facets of a single idea, emotion, or narrative. Each sonnet in the sequence can stand alone, but together they create a more comprehensive exploration of the topic. A famous example is Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese, which explores themes of love and devotion.

45. Synecdoche:

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. For example, calling a car "wheels" (where "wheels" represents the whole car) or referring to sailors as "hands" are examples of synecdoche.

46. Sestina:

A sestina is a complex, structured form of poetry consisting of six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line envoy. The same six words are repeated at the end of the lines in each stanza, but in a different order, following a specific pattern. The form is known for its intricate and repetitive nature, creating a powerful rhythm and unity. An example of a sestina is Ezra Pound’s “Sestina: Altaforte.”

47. Tone:

Tone refers to the poet's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through the poem’s style, word choice, and imagery. Tone can be formal, informal, serious, playful, sarcastic, mournful, or any other attitude that a poet wishes to convey. For instance, the tone in Sylvia Plath’s poem "Daddy" is angry and defiant.

48. Terza Rima:

Terza rima is a three-line stanza form with an interlocking rhyme scheme (ABA BCB CDC, etc.). This form creates a chain-like pattern where the middle line of one tercet rhymes with the first and third lines of the next. Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy is the most famous example of a poem written in terza rima.

49. Villanelle:

A villanelle is a 19-line poem with a specific structure: it consists of five tercets (three-line stanzas) followed by a quatrain (four-line stanza). The first and third lines of the opening tercet alternate as the final line of each subsequent tercet and then appear together as the final two lines of the quatrain. This intricate structure creates a sense of repetition and circularity. Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" is a famous villanelle.