- Alliteration: Repeating, within a line or phrase, the same initial consonant sound in several neighboring words (The raging river roared.)
- Antonyms: Words that have opposite meanings
- Assonance: Repeating, within a line or phrase, the same vowel sounds in words that have different consonants (The mad cat ran.)
- Blank verse: Poetry that doesn't have a set rhyme scheme but does have a set meter and rhythm
- Carpe Diem: Latin for "seize the day," a common theme in poetry that emphasizes how life is short so we should make the most of today
- Echo: Repeating sounds, syllables, words, or lines in a poem
- Homonym: Words that have the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings (game of pool, swimming pool)
- Homophone: Words that are pronounced alike but are spelled differently and usually have different meanings (to, too, and two; write and right)
- Hyperbole: An extreme exaggeration that emphasizes a point but isn't meant to be taken literally (I'll give you a million dollars for that cookie!)
- Metaphor: Describing something by comparing it to another object or thing without using "like" or "as" (The moon was a shining jewel.)
- Onomatopoeia: The use of a word that sounds like the thing it stands for (buzz, sizzle)
- Personification: A type of metaphor where human characteristics or feelings are given to an animal, object, or idea (the brave tree)
- Simile: A way of describing something by using "like" or "as" to compare it to something else (Her eyes were like stars.)
- Synonyms: Words that have the same or nearly the same meanings
What's in a Poem?
Writers use different literary techniques and sound patterns to create connections with readers. Use this glossary to inspire your budding poet.
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