Literary/Poetry Elements

The poet’s choice of words and how he/she organizes them.

• Diction

• First person

• Irony 

• Metaphor 

A mild or vague expression in place of a word that is more harsh or direct.

• Rhyme 

• Euphemism 

• Oxymoron 

• Mood 

The poem is written from the point of view of ‘I’ or ‘we’. 

• Diction

• Euphemism 

• First person 

• Irony 

A deliberate exaggeration. For example, ‘a big’ plate of food is described as ‘a mountainous’ plate of food.

• Pun

• First Person

• Diction

• Hyperbole

A statement or situation that has an underlying meaning that is different from the literal meaning.

• Irony 

• Euphemism 

• Pun

• Personification

A figure of speech that uses one thing to describe another in a figurative way.

• Theme 

• Simile 

• Metaphor

• Symbol 

The emotions felt by the reader when reading the poem.

• Rhyme

• Simile

• Irony

• Mood

A combination of words with contradictory meanings (meanings which seem to be opposite to each other).  For example, ‘an open secret’

• Sarcasm

• Oxymoron 

• Rythym

• Symbol

Giving human characteristics to non-human beings.

• Assonance 

• Hyperbole 

• Euphemism 

• Personification

A play on words which are identical or similar in sound.  It is used to create humor.

• Diction

• Pun

• Symbol

• Mood