A poem written for a specific occasion (eg. a birthday, a wedding etc.).

, Seventh Edition (New York: Heinle & Heinle, 1999) or A Dictionary of Modern Critical Terms 2nd edition, edited by Roger Fowler (London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1987). Literature students should [..]

See stress.

A story which represents an idea or belief. An allegory can be religious or political. The most famous example of an allegorical work in English literature is John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progres [..]

The reiterated initial consonants of the proximate words in a poem. For more details, click the page written by Ted Nellen.

A reference to an idea, place, person or text (or part of a text) existing outside the literary work.

A word or expression which has more than one meaning. Ambiguity is not necessarily negative in literary criticism.

A contrast or polarity in meaning.

A song which tells a story.

The 'person' in a work of fiction or drama. The way the author creates characters in a literary work is called characterization. You may also want to take a look at the entry on character an [..]