alliteration
the repetition of initial consonant sounds in successive or neighboring words
allusion
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art
assonance
the repetition of similar vowel sounds in neighboring words
atmosphere
the prevailing mood or feeling of a literary work.
blank verse
Verse (poetry) written in unrhymed iambic pentameter
caesura
a break or pause in a line of poetry
conflict
a struggle between two opposing forces or characters; conflict may be external or internal
connotation
All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests or implies
consonance
the repetition of middle or final consonant sounds in neighboring words.
couplet
two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme
denotation
the literal meaning of a word; dictionary definition
diction
A writer's choice of words
end-stopped line
a line of poetry that has a full pause at the end, typically indicated by a period or semicolon
enjambment
line of poetry that ends with no punctuation and consequently runs over into the next line
apostrophe
a direct and explicit address either to an absent person or to an abstract or nonhuman entity
hyperbole
extreme exaggeration for effect and not meant to be taken literally
metaphor
figure of speech comparing two different things
metonymy
one word substituted for another that it is closely associated with (pen mightier than the sword)
oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.
personification
A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes
simile
A comparison using "like" or "as"
synecdoche
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa ("wheels" to represent a car)
foreshadowing
A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.
free verse
Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
iamb
an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one
iambic pentameter
a poetic meter that is made up of 5 stressed syllables each followed by an unstressed syllable
imagery
Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)
irony
A contrast between expectation and reality
meter
A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry
mood
alternative term for atmosphere
motif
a recurring feature (name, image, phrase) in a work of literature; it generally contributes to a theme within the work
motivation
the reasons, either stated or implied, for a character's behavior
onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it represents.
paradox
an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
parallelism
Phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other
quatrain
a stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.
refrain
A line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.
rhyme
the repetition of sounds at the ends of words
rhyme scheme
the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse.
rhythm
the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry
setting
The context in time and place in which the action occurs.
sonnet
A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme, usually written in iambic pentameter
symbol
an object, person, place, or action that has meaning in itself and is also used to represent something else
syntax
the way that sequences of words are ordered into phrases, clauses, and sentences
tercet
a three-line stanza or poem
theme
the general idea or insight about life that a writer wishes to express in a literary work.
tone
the attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters, or audience (created by diction, imagery, detail, and syntax)
villanelle
a nineteen-line poem divided into five tercets and a final quatrain
Allusion
A reference to a person, a place, an event or a literary work that a writer expected a reader to recognize.
Anadiplosis
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase at the end of a sentence/clause is repeated at or near the beginning of the next sentence/clause.
Anaphora
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive clauses, sentences, or paragraphs. It can be used to emphasize specific diction choices, to create rhythm, or to link-compare-contrast ideas.
Antimetabole
the repetition of words in successive clauses, but in reversed grammatical order. It can be used to emphasize specific diction choices, to link/compare/contrast ideas, or to call attention to an idea through unique inversion.
antistrophe
the repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. It is often used to place emphasis on a particular thought or idea.
antithisis
the juxtaposition of opposing ideas in a balanced or parallel manner. It is often used to link/compare/contrast ideas. It can help the audience better understand the point the speaker is trying to make since the comparison of two situations or ideas makes choosing the correct one simpler.
Asyndeton
the lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. It can be used to create rhythm and to emphasize ideas, typically in an evenly distributed manner.
Inversion
 the reversal of the usual word order in a prose sentence or a line of poetry for emphasis or variety. The main function of inversion is to help writers achieve stylistic effect; it can help emphasize a particular point or better focus the reader on a particular point or word choice.
Verbal Irony
 when a person says one thing and means another. Through verbal irony, writers can convey bitter messages indirectly, in a less bitter and more effective way. It provokes the audience into analyzing and thinking harder about a situation. By contrasting and comparing statements with reality, the readers can better understand the speaker’s intent.
Paralipsis
a specific type of verbal irony when a person draws attention to an idea by seeming to discount the idea. It is used to draw the attention of readers towards a sensitive matter, while the speaker can appear detached from it. Speakers use paralipsis in order to keep themselves away from unfair claims, though they bring them up quite often. They use it to distance themselves from consequences.
Parallelism
the use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form. The balance between clauses or phrases makes complex thoughts easier to process while holding the audience's attention.
Polysyndeton
the repetition of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. It can be used to create rhythm and to emphasize ideas, typically in an evenly distributed manner.
Repetition
a literary device in which sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas are repeated for emphasis in a speech, a poem, or another piece of writing. It can be used to create rhythm, to emphasize specific diction choices, or to emphasize a particular mood/tone
rhetorical question
a question that is asked to get the audience or reader involved, but no reply is expected. The question implies the correct answer. It is used to emphasize a point or draw the audience’s attention, since it provokes thoughtful participation on the part of the audience.