Abstractions—Words with no concrete reality or image Truth or beauty
Apostrophe—Speaking to something that is inanimate “Death be not proud” (John
Donne)
Connotative—Associated meanings What the word connotes (associated meanings)
“Gay”—happy or a sexual preference, can take on the connotative meaning “gay” being
used to say something is dumb, silly or absurd.
Denotative—What a word denotes Dictionary meaning
Diction—Language that the writer chose
Imagery—Images within a poem Visual Imagery—Words used to describe things that
we can see Aural Imagery—Descriptions of things we hear Tactile Imagery—Describe
things we can touch Gustatory Imagery—Words that describe taste Olfactory Imagery—
Words used to describe a smell
Metaphor—indirect comparison “Men are Dogs”
Poetic diction—A system of words refined from the grossness of domestic use.
Simile—comparing using “like” or “as” Men are like dogs
Syntax—Order of words in writing “The strain is soft” can be turned around to say,
“Soft is the strain”. When the words are rearranged, the new sound is less choppy.