Midtern Study Guide

1. You should be able to define and give examples of the following terms:

trope

icon

symbol

sign

reference/referent

signification/signifier

The Semiotic Triangle

layering

simile

metaphor

allusion

subtext

assonance

alliteration

personification

symbolism

repetition

negation

inversion

homonym

synonym

2. You should be able to describe the qualities of an imagist poem and distinguish an imagist poem from a non-imagist poem.

3. You should be able to explicate a short poem or passage of prose (i.e., explain the techniques used, the underlying meanings, the themes, etc.).

4. You should be able to explain the basic rules for a haiku and distinguish between a good haiku and a bad one.