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Poetry Vocabulary
Figurative Language and Poetic Devices
Term | Definition |
---|---|
figurative language | words and phrases that present ordinary things in new and unusual ways The meaning is different than the actual words you use. e.g. "It's a million degrees in this room!" = It's really hot. There is no way it's actually a million degrees. |
simile | comparing two things using "like" or "as" e.g. Luisa Madrigal is as strong as Hercules. |
form | how a poem looks on a page |
alliteration | repetition of beginning consonant sounds in words (like dance, dare, drop) |
hyperbole | an obvious exaggeration e.g. I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse. |
sensory language | words and phrases that appeal to a reader's five senses e.g. The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen with a comforting scent. |
lines | what poems are made up of instead of sentences |
stanza | a group of lines in a poem (looks similar to a paragraph) |
repetition | the use of sounds, words, phrases, or whole lines more than once |
tone | the poet's attitude toward his/her subject You can tell by the adjectives (descriptive words) the author/speaker uses |
sound | a poetic device used to express meaning and emotion; an author can use rhyme, rhythm, and repetition to appeal to the reader's sense of hearing |
rhyme | the rhyming of words at the ends of two or more lines of poetry. |
rhythm | the pattern of sounds and beats that helps poetry flow from one idea to the next |
speaker | the voice of the poem or the person who seems to be saying the words |
metaphor | comparing two things WITHOUT using the words "like" or "as" e.g. He is as happy as a clam. |
personification | giving an animal, object, or idea human qualities e.g. You can hear trees whisper in the dark. |
onomatopoeia | words that represent the sound they make e.g. boom, roar, howl, buzz |