The Voice of the Swallow, The Voice of the Swallow, Flittering, Calls to MeFlittering, Calls to Me

Pastoral PoetryPastoral Poetry

CoupletCouplet

A A couplet couplet is a pair of rhyming lines written in is a pair of rhyming lines written in the same meter.the same meter.

The following iambic tetrameter couplets The following iambic tetrameter couplets come from John Milton’s “L’Allegro”:come from John Milton’s “L’Allegro”:

And if I give thee honor due,And if I give thee honor due,Mirth, admit me of the crewMirth, admit me of the crewTo live with her, and live with thee,To live with her, and live with thee,In unreproved pleasures free.In unreproved pleasures free.

ThemeTheme

The central idea, concern, or purpose in a literary The central idea, concern, or purpose in a literary work.work.

In an essay the theme might be directed stated in In an essay the theme might be directed stated in what is known as the thesis statement.what is known as the thesis statement.

In a serious literary work, the theme is usually In a serious literary work, the theme is usually expressed indirectly rather than directly.expressed indirectly rather than directly.

A light work, one written strictly for entertainment, A light work, one written strictly for entertainment, may not have a theme.may not have a theme.

DictionDiction

Diction refers to a writer’s choice of words.Diction refers to a writer’s choice of words. This choice is like the appropriate selection This choice is like the appropriate selection

of clothing.of clothing. You would not go to a wedding in jeans.You would not go to a wedding in jeans. A writer’s diction can be a major determinant A writer’s diction can be a major determinant

of his or her style.of his or her style. Diction can be described as formal or Diction can be described as formal or

informal, abstract or concrete, plain or informal, abstract or concrete, plain or ornate, ordinary or technicalornate, ordinary or technical

DictionDiction

John L. Foster, the translator of these Egyptian John L. Foster, the translator of these Egyptian love poems, made the following statement about love poems, made the following statement about his choice of words:his choice of words:““The diction should be unpretentiously colloquial, The diction should be unpretentiously colloquial, simple, except when elevated by the power of a simple, except when elevated by the power of a strong feeling or slipping over into the sometimes strong feeling or slipping over into the sometimes slangy verbal patterns of irony or humor. The slangy verbal patterns of irony or humor. The language should be conversational, quiet, the language should be conversational, quiet, the usages of personal and private speech; for those usages of personal and private speech; for those are the kinds of words for lovers.”are the kinds of words for lovers.”

RhymeRhyme

RhymeRhyme is the repetition of sounds at the ends of is the repetition of sounds at the ends of words.words.

End rhymeEnd rhyme occurs when the rhyming words are occurs when the rhyming words are repeated at the ends of lines of poetry.repeated at the ends of lines of poetry.

Internal rhymeInternal rhyme occurs when the rhyming words fall occurs when the rhyming words fall within a line.within a line.

Exact rhymeExact rhyme is the use of identical rhyming is the use of identical rhyming sounds as in sounds as in lovelove andand dove.dove.

ApproximateApproximate or or slant rhymeslant rhyme is the use of sounds is the use of sounds that are similar but not identical, as in that are similar but not identical, as in proveprove and and gloveglove..

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

A A rhyme schemerhyme scheme is a regular pattern of is a regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem or stanza.rhyming words in a poem or stanza.

To indicate a rhyme scheme, on assigns To indicate a rhyme scheme, on assigns each final sound in the poem or stanza a each final sound in the poem or stanza a different letter.different letter.

Consider the following example from La Consider the following example from La Fontaine’s “The Wolf and the Lamb:”Fontaine’s “The Wolf and the Lamb:”

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

A lamb her thirst was slaking A lamb her thirst was slaking a a Once at a mountain rill. Once at a mountain rill. bb A hungry wolf was takingA hungry wolf was taking aa His hunt for sheep to kill, His hunt for sheep to kill, bb When spying on the streamlet’s brink When spying on the streamlet’s brink cc This sheep of tender age, This sheep of tender age, dd He howled in tones of rage,He howled in tones of rage, dd How dare you roil my drink? How dare you roil my drink? cc The rhyme scheme of these lines is :The rhyme scheme of these lines is : ababcddc ababcddc

SimileSimile

A A simile simile is a figure of speech that compares is a figure of speech that compares two dissimilar things by using a key word two dissimilar things by using a key word such as such as likelike or or asas. .

By comparing dissimilar things, the writer of By comparing dissimilar things, the writer of a simile shocks the reader into appreciation a simile shocks the reader into appreciation of the qualities of the things being of the qualities of the things being compared.compared.

A simile makes a description more vivid and A simile makes a description more vivid and memorable.memorable.

IronyIrony

IronyIrony is the general name given to literary is the general name given to literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting, or techniques that involve surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions.amusing contradictions.

In In verbal ironyverbal irony, words are used to suggest the , words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning.opposite of their usual meaning.

In In dramatic ironydramatic irony, there is a contradiction between , there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true.audience knows to be true.

In In irony of situationirony of situation, an event occurs that directly , an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience.reader, or the audience.