Poetry Terms

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Figurative language

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Using expressions with a different meaning than the literal interpretation.

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Metaphor

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.' Example: 'Everyday is a winding road.'

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Rhyme scheme

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The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem. Example: AABB indicates that the first two lines rhyme with each other and the next two lines rhyme with each other.

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Alliteration

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The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in a sentence. Example: 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore.'

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Couplet

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A pair of lines of verse that form a unit, often rhyming with each other.

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Simile

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as.' Example: 'You are as bright as the moon.'

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Onomatopoeia

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A word that imitates the natural sound of a thing. Example: 'buzz,' 'hiss,' or 'clang.'

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Personification

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Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

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Imagery

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Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a visual representation in the reader's mind.

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Hyperbole

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An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. Example: 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.'