Appendix
Literary Terms
Anaphora: The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of each line.
I have a voice when I'm alone in my room
I have a voice when I can hear my own heart
Alliteration: The repetition of the same sounds in a group of words.
The undercurrents of conversation create a remedy spoken…
Allusion: A hint that refers to literature or history.
Assonance: A form of alliteration where vowel sounds are repeated.
Cacophony: Harsh, non-harmonious sounds. It includes words or phrases in literature that are hard to pronounce. Like dissonance, cacophony can be used for dramatic effect.
Consonance: A form of alliteration where consonants are repeated.
Diction: Word choice. The writer uses words or phrases to convey meaning. Note "Leave me at once" versus "Get out of my face."
Dissonance: In music, harsh, clashing sounds.
Imagery: Not only what we can imagine seeing in literature, but what we can imagine hearing, touching, smelling and tasting.
Metaphor: A way of describing something by comparing it, sometimes very subtly, to something else.
Mood: The atmosphere of the poem. A poem about loss may feel sad.
Refrain: Words or musical notes repeated at the end of each verse.
Repetition: Words or phrases are repeated. Repetition can create a musical effect.
Rhyme: Internal rhyme is used often in spoken word poetry and hip-hop. Slam poet Taylor Mali makes fun of its overuse in political poetry: "Because I have seen the disintegration of gentrification/ and can speak with articulation/ about cosmic constellations, and atomic radiation." End rhyme, particularly masculine end rhyme, can creates a sing-song feel to the poem, especially when combined with a set rhythm.
- This is the day
- We go away
- To see our friends
- And make amends.
Rhythm: The measurable beat of a line, poem or song. Students feel the rhythm of a song when they dance or move to the music, but it may be hard for them to articulate the pattern. At live spoken word events, even when the poet performs solo (without musicians), audience members will nod their heads, swing their legs, or tap their foot to the beat if a poet establishes one. Think about how we feel the motion of a song. Now imagine a poem that moves from the page to the same air that the song uses. How do we feel the motion of the poem?
Tone: The poet's attitude toward the subject of the poem. In a poem about loss, the poet's voice may seem bitter or resentful.
Comments: