Poetry Notes and Terms

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Persona

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A character or figurative mask that an actor, writer, or singer takes on in order to perform. This was originally just used in theater but has become popular in literature.

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Consonance

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The repetition of consonant sounds in the middle and ends of words, as with the t sound in 'little bats in the attic.'

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Diction

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The choice of words that an author makes and uses in a work of literature.

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Extended Metaphor

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A metaphor that an author develops over the course of many lines or even an entire work of literature.

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Rhyme Scheme

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The pattern of rhyming words at the end of a line of poetry.

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Imagery

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Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses, creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

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Alliteration

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The repetition of initial (beginning) consonant sounds, as with the s sound in 'Cindy sweeps the sand.'

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Simile

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as.' For example, 'as brave as a lion.'

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Metaphor

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A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.' For example, 'Time is a thief.'

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Theme

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The central message or lesson to be learned from a work of literature.