Literary Terms and Sound Devices

repeated words or a series of words; like a chorus

reference to another literary work or historical event

used to describe the word choice and level of formality the speaker uses

word structure and sentence structure

understatement used for effect or for irony; the opposite of hyperbole

Two successive rhyming lines

a line having no end punctuation and running over to the next line of poetry

the repetition of identical vowel sounds in the same line or sentence

a comparison of two unlike things with like or as

extreme exaggeration or emphasis used for effect

giving human-like qualities to something considered non-human within a culture

the repetition of identical sounds at the beginning of words in the same sentence or line

a word that imitates the sound of an activity (boom, pop, zoom)

a short but definite pause used for effect within a line of poetry; most often indicated with a dash --

a comparison of two unlike things without using like or as

a seeming contradiction that is nonetheless true (the only constant is change)

words that look like they rhyme based on spelling, but are actually pronounced differently (bear / fear)

repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of a line throughout a stanza or the whole poem

the repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or end of words in the same line or sentence

the repetition of identical concluding syllables in different words at the end of lines

words that create images for the reader that trigger the mind to create sensory-based memories

a near rhyme with the concluding consonant sounds are identical but not the vowels (sun / noon; slim / ham)

the pattern of rhyme, indicated by assigning a letter of the alphabet to each last word in a line of poetry

an exact rhyme within a line of poetry

a group of poetic lines; corresponding to paragraphs