Can someone please give me some SIMPLE (easy for me to understand) meanings of the following poetry terms? because I am quite confused with the terms...especially alliteration, assonance,consonance, and rhyme. How can I identify them?

1. Poetry
2. Alliteration
3. Assonance
4. Consonance
5. Rhyme
6. figurative language
7. literal

Thank you.

First, I'll give you some of my favorite sites on which to look up information:

http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/

http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_A.html
Choose by first letter, then scroll down.

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Keep scrolling down until you find what you need.

And then there's also a good dictionary, such as http://www.answers.com

Poetry -- From answers.com, this is the best definition, I think:
"2 A piece of literature written in meter; verse."
Poetry is the opposite of prose; prose is our everyday writing -- in sentences and paragraphs with no attempt to include rhythm, rhyme, or any of poetry's characteristics.

Alliteration -- repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words very close to each other: "rifles rapid rattle" ("r" is the alliteration)

Assonance -- repetition of vowel sounds in successive words: "jumpy monkey sundae"

Now you look up the rest and let me know what you find.

=)

I can't figure it out what is the difference between "assonance" and "consonance".

Thanks for helping out.

Assonance is the repetition of VOWEL sounds (a, e, i, o, u); consonance and alliteration involve the repetition of consonants (all the other letters of the alphabet); in alliteration that is the repetition of consonant sounds at the BEGINNING of words.

Here is the best explanation I've found for understanding consonance:
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words. Consonance is very similar to alliteration, but the distinction between the two lies in the placement of the sounds. If the repeated sound is at the start of the words, it is alliteration. If it is anywhere else, it is consonance. In most cases, consonance refers to the end sound (like “nk” in blank and think

Consonance in "The Silken Tent" by Robert Frost:
"as in guys she gently sways at ease"


from (Broken Link Removed)

Thanks :)

It did help!

Of course! I'd be happy to explain these poetry terms in a simple way for you to understand. Let's break them down one by one:

1. Poetry: Poetry is a style of writing that uses rhythm, meter, and language to express emotions, ideas, or experiences. It often relies on the use of literary devices and figurative language to create vivid imagery and evoke certain feelings.

2. Alliteration: Alliteration is when words in a line or phrase have the same beginning sound. For example, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" uses the "p" sound repeatedly. It adds musicality and emphasis to the words by repeating similar or identical sounds at the beginning.

3. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Rather than repeating consonant sounds like alliteration, assonance focuses on vowel sounds. For instance, the phrase "how now brown cow" repeats the "ow" sound. It helps create a rhyme-like effect without being a full rhyme.

4. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words, specifically within the middle or at the end of words. Unlike alliteration, which focuses on beginning sounds, consonance includes similar sounds located elsewhere in words. For example, "blank and think" repeats the "nk" sound. Consonance adds a musical quality and helps create a flow within the poem.

5. Rhyme: Rhyme occurs when words share similar sounds at the end of lines. This similarity can be either in their ending syllables or in the sounds that come after it. For instance, "cat" and "hat" rhyme because they both end with the "-at" sound. Rhymes can be used to create a pleasing rhythm, emphasize certain words, or establish a pattern in a poem.

6. Figurative language: Figurative language is the use of words or phrases that do not have their literal meaning. These phrases often create vivid images or convey certain emotions by using metaphors, similes, personification, and other techniques. Figurative language allows writers to add depth, creativity, and complexity to their poems.

7. Literal: Literal refers to words or phrases that are used with their precise, original meaning. It is the opposite of figurative language, which conveys meanings beyond the literal interpretation. Literal language is straightforward and does not involve symbolism or metaphor.

To identify these terms in a poem, you can start by reading the poem aloud to listen for patterns, such as repeated sounds or rhymes. Pay attention to words that sound similar or have the same beginning or ending sounds. Look for words or phrases that convey deeper meaning or create vivid imagery. By analyzing the poem closely, you can identify and understand these poetry terms.