Short glossary of literary terms (from one of many web sources)

Taken from: http://www.sgsd.k12.wi.us/homework/kanne/webpage%20stuff/HEng%2010/poetry/Song%20Analysis%20Poetic%20Elements%20Review.htm

Song Analysis Poetic Elements Review

Apostrophe
Poetic device in which the poet talks to an absent person.
Example:
From Pink Floyd:
“Hey You!
Out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old
Can you hear me?”

Simile
Comparison of two unlike things using ‘like” or ‘as’.
Example:
“She was as cold as a winter morning”

Metaphor
Comparison of two unlike things without using ‘like” or ‘as’.
Example:
“She was a cold winter morning”

Understatement
Stating an idea with considerable restraint/sarcasm. Opposite of exaggeration.
Example:
Saying, “I see you have a bit of a problem on your hands” when the problem is enormous.

Onomatopoeia
The use of a word that’s sound suggests its meaning.
Example:
“Bang” “Splat” “Boing”

Exact/end Rhyme
Rhyming words exactly at the end of two lines of poetry
Example:
From “Innocence Maintained” by Jewel:
“Ophelia drowned in the water
Crushed by her own weight
Hitler loved little blue-eyed boys
But it drove him to hate”

Approximate Rhyme [e.g., half rhyme]
Rhyme that does not match exactly
Example:
“Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.”

Imperfect Rhyme [e.g., sight rhyme]
Words that look like they should rhyme but do not.
Example:
gone and stone

Internal Rhyme
Rhyme within a line of poetry
Example:
“Jack and Jill went up the hill”

Allusion
Reference to a famous person, place, thing or event in poetry
Example:
“Ophelia drowned in the water
Crushed by her own weight
Hitler loved little blue- eyed boys
But it drove him to hate”

Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds
Example:
“Sue sells sea shells by the sea shore”

Refrain
Repetition of a line or phrase at regular intervals
Example:
“I’m a genie in a bottle baby
Come, come, come on and let me out...”

Enjambment
Running over of a sentence from one line of poetry to the next
Example:
From “Behind These Hazel Eyes” by Kelly Clarkson:
“Here I am once again
I’m torn into pieces
Can’t deny it can’t pretend
I just thought you were the one
Broken up deep inside
But you don’t get to see the tears I cry
behind these hazel eyes.”

Imagery
Words/phrases which bring a certain picture to the listener’s/reader’s mind
Example:
From “Barcelona” by Jewel:
“Barcelona
Where the winds all blew
The churches don’t have windows
But the graveyards do.”

Personification
Giving non human things human-like qualities
Example:
The icy fingers of death wrapped around her until she expired.

Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds anywhere in the word.
Example:
We need easy feelings, not evil or mean ones.

Repetition
Repeating words for emphasis
Example:
All we need is love, love
Love is all we need.

Inversion
Reversal of normal word order for effect (usually rhyme)
Example:
I and my Annabel Lee

Symbol
A concrete object used to represent an idea
Example:
A dove = peace; a heart = love; a wedding ring = unity

Hyperbole
Exaggeration for effect
Example:
“Your hands are in my hair
but my heart is in your teeth”

Consonance
Repetition of consonant sound from anywhere in the word
Example:
We were meant to live for so much more / but we lost ourselves