acephalous

Also called "headless" verse. A type of catalexis in which an unstressed syllable is dropped from the beginning of a line of metrical poetry.

Alexandrine

Verse written in Iambic hexameter.

Allegory

The direct representation of one often abstract object using another, (i.e. the Grim Reaper representing death). Frequently used to portray some religious or moral principle.

Alliteration

A repetition of an initial sound (usually a consonant or consonant cluster) in a series of words.

Allusion

A reference to another time, place, person, thing, poem, legend, etc.

Ambiguity

The intentional allowance of uncertainty as to the "correct" reading of a word or metaphor, so as to enhance the possible interpretations.

Amphibrac

a metrical foot used in formal poetry. It consists of a long syllable between two short syllables.

Anachronism

The literary placement of an object, (such as a person, creature, or language), in a time when that object did or does not exist.

Anacoluthon

A lack of grammatical consistency within the same sentence, usually for rhetorical purpose.

Anadiplosis

A specific type of repetition, or echo, in which a word or short phrase, usually at the end of an opening clause, is repeated in several subsequent clauses; usually for the rhetorical purposes of emphasizing contrast and/or evolution between the subsequent clauses.

Anaphora

The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of sequential phrases/sentences/lines, etc, often to achieve rhetorical or thematic emphasis.

Anastrophe

The swapping, or transpositioning, of grammatically correct or conversationally normal word order to achieve emphasis, challenge or assert linguistic concepts, or create an artistic wordplay. Also used to force a line to fall into a metrical or rhyming pattern, to the all-to-frequent effect of ruining the line or poem's credibility.

Animation

A specific form of personification, in which elements of nature are given human characteristics and/or behaviors.

Aphorism

A brief, often cleverly-phrased expression of a general truth, principle, or maxim.

Aporia

An expression of genuine or feigned doubt on the part of the speaker as to the proper course of thought, expression, or action.

Aposiopesis

A form of literary ellipse in which the speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly due to an overwhelming change in their emotional or mental state.

Apostrophe

Words addressed to a person (usually dead or absent), or a thing (usually abstract). (From the Greek, meaning to turn from addressing the audience to addressing one person.)

Archetype

The model, or prototype, for a character-type that continually surfaces in myth, literature, religion, etc. In Jungian psychology, it is believed that art, dreams, and other expressions of the human psyche are patterned after deeply ingrained archetypal experiences.

Assonance

The repetition of specific vowel sounds in a pair or series of words.

Aubade

A (usually lyrical) poem or song concerned with the coming of daybreak. Although many traditional aubades focus on lovers reluctant to part at the coming dawn, this aspect is not a requisite of the form.

Auditory Imagery

Imagery which appeals specifically to the sense of hearing.

Bathos

Falsley elevated diction, tone, sentimentality or subject matter which, instead of inspiring desirable effects like dignity or pathos, results in an anti-climactic and/or ridiculous feel.

Catalexis

The dropping of an (unstressed) syllable from a line of metrical verse, usually at the end of a line. When catalexis occurs at the beginning of the line, it is called acephalous, or a "headless" verse.

Conceit

A metaphor that is extended beyond its original tenors and vehicles to include other tenors and vehicles.

Connotation

A meaning beyond the denotative (or dictionary) meaning of a word, which can create or enhance subtextual interpretation.

Consonance

In prosody, a repetition of non-initial consonant sounds or consonant-cluster sounds in a group of words. Outside of prosody, a pleasant harmony of parts/sounds/etc.

Diction

The poet's distinct word choice, or manner of expression, (esp. within a specific poem).

Didactic

Anthing written for the clear purpose of teaching or instruction, (esp. such writings which also have an overly pedantic or moralistic nature).

Dissonance

An auditory term, referring to an unpleasant, or ugly quality of combined sounds. Also, the words that create the disagreeable effect. (Antonym: euphony)

Echo

Also called repetition, the repeating of words, phrases, lines, or stanzas, to emphasize or draw upon aspects of the repeated elements, such as their sound, meaning, importance, veracity, etc.

Endstopped Line

A line of poetry in which the line break occurs at the end of a complete thought, phrase, or sentence. This is often used alongside enjambed lines to heighten musicality, modulate flow, and signal the ends of sections or areas of thought within a poem.

Enjambed Line

A line of poetry in which the line break does not occur at the end of a grammatically complete thought or phrase. This often is used to creating an artistic fluctuation of movement between line flow and word flow, and to enhance or influence possible interpretation.

Enriched Consonance

See Pararhyme.

Epic Simile

A simile in which the vehicle is developed well beyond it's initial relationship to the tenor.

Epithalamium

A poem or song written as part of a nuptial celebration, in honor of the bride and groom.

Euphemism

An intentional understatement, for the purposes of creating a specific effect.

Euphony

An auditory term, referring to a pleasing, or agreeable quality of combined sounds. Also, the words that create the pleasing effect. (Antonym: dissonance)

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is elaborated and expanded upon, often over the length of an entire literary work.

Figurative Language

Any one of a number of literary/poetic devices in which more is conveyed by the language used than its precise literal meaning. See: metaphor, simile, hyperbole, irony, parody, satire, etc.

Gustatory Imagery

Imagery which appeals specifically to the sense of taste.

Hyperbole

An intentional exaggeration/overstatement, for the purposes of creating a specific effect.

Imagery

A careful and lucid description of objects/scenery/actions, such that there is no ambiguity of literal interpretation. (This does not imply that meaning is limited to the literal, or surface interpretation).

Irony

In poetry, this usually implies the humorous and/or subtly sarcastic statement of something in such a manner that the literal meaning of the statement is the direct opposite of the implied/intended meaning. In general literature, it may imply the contrast between the truth as it is believed or supposed by a speaker/character, and the truth as it is known/revealed to the reader or audience. Outside of any literal context, this simply refers to a result or circumstance that is different or even opposite to that which is expected.

Kinaesthetic Imagery

See Kinetic Imagery

Kinetic Imagery

Also known askinaesthetic; imagery which appeals to a sense of motion.

Litotes

A euphamistic expression of an assertion by negation of the assertion's contrary. (ie. "He's not so bright.")

Lyrical

A form of poetry in which the language is especially musical, and tending towards harmony and pleasantness of sound and imagery.

Metaphor

A comparison between two unrelated objects in which a relationship is implied by describing one object, (called the tenor), in terms of the other, (called the vehicle), such that a new perception of one or both of the objects is achieved.

Meter

The repetition of specific patterns of syllables and/or rhythms. In English poetry, meter is usually accentual-syllabic, in that the repetition is of a specific number of syllables with a specific rhythmic pattern.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which one object is referred to using the description or name of a separate object that is clearly related. (i.e. using the phrase “the oval office” to refer to the President).

Milieu

The physical, historical, cultural or social setting of literature, (especially where such settings effect plot, character, etc.)

Olfactory Imagery

Imagery which appeals specifically to the sense of smell.

Onomatopoeia

The use of a word or series of words whose sounds imitate what they describe, (i.e. buzz, bark, meow, etc).

Oxymoron

The bringing together of two words with opposing literal meanings that enhance each other instead of nullifying each other.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement or assertion.

Pararhyme

Also called enriched consonance, this is a form of consonace in which words share more than one group of consonant sounds, situated within the words in the same order, but having different vowel sounds between the matching consonant sounds, (ie. "fat foot")

Parody

A form of satire that imitates a specific poet/writer/speaker for the purposes or humor and/or ridicule.

Pastoral

A type of poetry, usually lyrical and classical in style, which idealizes nature and the outdoors.

Pathetic Fallacy

A specific form of personification in which inanimate objects are imbued with human traits or behaviors.

Personification

The literary bestowal of human traits or behaviours upon ideas or objects.

Point of View

The narrative perspective of the speaker, as determined by the part of speech (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person) used within a poem or prose piece, and the level of knowledge, (limited, or omniscient), of the speaker.

Prolepsis

A figure of preconception, or anticipation, (ie. forseeing, and describing or answering a literary or rhetorical concern before it arises).

Refrain

A line, or longer phrase, repeated throughout a poem.

Rhetoric

Language composed and used to persuade.

Rhyme

The similarity of ending sounds existing between two words. There are several specific types of rhyme, which depend upon the closeness of the similarities of pronunciation and spelling, as well as the placement of the rhyme with regards to the physical structure of a line.

Rhyme Scheme

The specific sequence or pattern in which rhyme occurs throughout the entirety of a poem. When describing an end-rhyme scheme, all words that adhere to a specific rhyme will be represented with a specific letter.

Satire

The often-humorous use of irony to expose and attack vices, abuses, etc.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using the words "like", "as", or "than" to unambiguously link them.

Stanza

A grouping of lines within a poem containing single line breaks, (as opposed to multi-line breaks), and similar metrical patterns and rhyme schemes, (in formal verse).

Symbolism

The use of one object as a representation for another object; be it animate, inanimate, or abstract.

Synecdoche

The representation of the whole of an object by a part of that object.

Synesthesia

Creates an image or awareness particular to one the five senses, but uses it to describe an image or perception or of a different sense. For example, using a color, (a visual image) to describe a touch (a physical sensation).

Tactile Imagery

Also known as Haptic; imagery which appeals specifically to the sense of touch.

Tenor

In metaphor or simile, the object being described in terms of another, unrelated object.

Tone

The conveyed additude of the speaker with regards to the subject or theme of a poem.

Trope

A figure/device which causes a "turn," or conversion, from literal language to figurative language; especially one which introduces a relationship between different things.

Vehicle

In metaphor or simile, the object being used to describe another, unrelated object.

Verisimilitude

The literary quality of seeming true, or of having characters or details captured in such a manner that the reader identifies them as true.