English ⇄ thesaurus

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Terms for subject Literature (1001 entries)

hymn	A song, prayer or speech in honour of God.
hypallage	A reversal in the relationship of the meaning of two words.
hyperbaton	Unexpected use of word order, usually for emphasis.
hyperbole	The literary device of exaggeration or overstatement. For example 'The boy was as big as a whale'.
hypercatalectic	A poetic line which has an additional syllable after the final beat or foot.
hypercorrection	An inappropriate correction to grammar.
hypertext novel	Electronic literature which makes provision for reader reaction through the use of hypertext links.
hysteron-proteron	An expression or phrase in which the usual order of the words are reversed.
iamb	A unit or foot of poetry that is made up of a lightly stressed syllable followed by a heavily stressed syllable. "Inscribe" and "restore" are examples of words which naturally follow this pattern
iambic	See meter, foot and iamb
iambic hexameter	Otherwise known as an alexandrine, this type of poetic form consists of 6 metrical feet. A line of iambic hexameter would therefore have 12 syllables, in pairs where the first syllable is unstressed and the second is stressed. This metrical form has never been as popular as the iambic pentameter in English literature.
iambic pentameter	One of the most widespread rhythmical patterns in English poetry. Iambic Pentameter is also the meter in which Shakespeare wrote many of his plays.
iambic tetrameter	A metre of poetry, which contains four iambic feet. A line of iambic tetrameter therefore has 8 syllables, where one unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable. This pattern is repeated four times. Iambic pentameter is the more common meter used in English literature.
iambic trimeter	A meter of poetry, which contains three iambic feet. A line of iambic trimeter therefore has 6 syllables, where one unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable. This pattern is repeated three times. Iambic pentameter is the more common meter used in English literature.
ictus	A rhythm or beat
identical rhyme	When the same word appears at the end of consecutive lines, creating a rhyme. For example, when the word lice/lice appear as the conclusion of two lines. This technique is sometimes considered as unartful.
ideograph	A diagram or picture which represents an idea or concept.
ideolect	The speech of an individual.
idiom	A phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning eg "It is raining cats and dogs".
idyll	A work that represents an idealized setting of happiness and innocence.