Metaphor:The term metaphor has two meanings. In its broad sense, it means any type of poetic comparison (also known as metaphorical language). This means that the metaphor is generally ‘any’ poetic link between two concrete entities or images. It includes figurative devices like simile, metaphor, conceit, symbol, animation, personification, etc. In its specific sense, metaphor is one particular kind of comparison in which there is no linking word. It is a direct and unlinked analogy, like: "my love is a red, red rose".
            The metaphoric comparison can be made in three different ways:
1) A is B (John's father is an ugly dog) (explicit/open)
2) A Bs (John's father barks) (implicit in the verb, compared with ‘dog')
3) A is B-ish (John is beautiful) (implicit in the adjective, implying ‘girl’!)
In the second and third cases above, the comparison is implied (dog and girl) and the metaphor is called submerged or implicit. Even a direct comparison like ‘rose-and-lover’ that looks ordinary and simple is usually quite complex because of several possible aspects of comparison between the tenor (lover) and the vehicle (rose). First, we should see why a certain object or image is selected and what the possible features for comparison are. Then, we should decide in what sense the qualities of the two objects or images can be related and interpreted.
            Whenever there is more than one metaphor in a context, we should see how they are inter-related. The thread of connection of meaning may spread throughout the whole poem and in relation to the particular context. So, readymade response will not do, but a tactful, skilful and effortful analysis is demanded.
            Metaphors that have become part of ordinary speech are called dead metaphors. We don't realize their metaphoric meaning (Eg: the ‘heart’ of the matter). But poetic metaphors are usually original, playful and multiple in meaning. So, they must be interpreted with full attention to the particular context and connotations.

Allegory: Allegory is a parallel story. If a single word or expression has an abstract and general meaning, it is called a symbol; but if the whole ‘story’ of a drama, story or poem has a symbolic meaning throughout, it is called an allegory. Read More...

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds. The repeated consonants normally occur at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables. Read More...

Allusion: An allusion in a literary text is a reference to a personal place or event or to another literary work or passage. It does not have clear identification, that is, it does not tell directly what it stands for. Read More...

Animation: Animation is giving life to non-living objects. If a poet treats a lifeless concrete thing as having life, awareness, will-power, thought, emotion, etc, that is called animation. For example, if a poet says, "The moon is ‘smiling’ at me", he animates the moon. Read More...

Ballad:originally a kind of folk song; also sung with music; now recorded in writing, and also regarded as literature/ poetry. Read More...

Blank verse: Blank verse refers to the poetic lines that use iambic pentameter without rhyming. Read More...

Classical Poetry:The classical or neo-classical poets of the eighteenth century had had made poetry more social than personal, more intellectual than emotional and imaginative, more rule-based than spontaneous. Read More...

Conceit: The conceit is a striking metaphor. It is so original and unconventional that it not only strikes the reader into attention, but sometimes shocks them, being even objectionable or absurd at first. Read More...

Epic: One the oldest of the poetic forms, the epic is a long narrative poem, majestic both in theme and style, dealing with legendary or historical events of national or universal significance, involving action of broad sweep and grandeur. Read More...

Epic Simile: The epic simile is a figurative device first popularized by Homer in his epics. It is a comparison that may be as long as a dozen lines. Read More...

Iambic pentameter: Iambic pentameter means ‘five iambic feet in a line’. ‘Iambic’ means a unit of rhythm with two syllables where the first is not stressed (U) and the second is stressed (S). Read More...

Image: An image is considered to be a picture created in the mind by words. Generally images are divided as visual images and abstract images. Read More...

Imagery: Imagery is the general term for the use of ‘images’ in poetry. The use of all kinds of concrete, metaphoric and more abstract is called imagery. Read More...

Irony: Irony is an indirect way of criticizing things, and it can be done in several ways. The word ‘Irony’ comes from its Greek root ‘Eiron’, a dramatic character who spoke in ‘understatement’, pretending to be less intelligent. Read More...

Ode:Most simply, the Ode is known as a poem addressed to somebody or something. But, besides that one simple feature, the ode is characterized by a number of features of a special classical form of poetry, or poetic expression. Read More...