Literary Terms

• Ode → The poem is a type of ode, which means it is a serious, thoughtful poem about a deep subject.

• Imagery → Words that help us see pictures in our mind. Example: “deep, deep upon her peerless eyes” – we can imagine her eyes.
• Personification → When feelings or things act like people. Example: Sadness (Melancholy) is shown as a woman.
• Allusion → A small hint to something from old stories or history. Example: “Lethe” is from a Greek myth—it’s a river that makes people forget.
• Metaphor → Saying one thing is something else (without “like” or “as”). Example: Joy is shown as someone who always says goodbye. 
• Symbols → Using objects or images to represent bigger ideas. 

• Lethe → Symbol of forgetting or escape from pain.
• Wolf’s-bane, Nightshade, and Poisonous Plants → Symbol of death and self-destruction.
• Weeping Cloud → Symbol of nature’s sadness.
• Rainbow and Flowers (peonies) → Symbol of beauty and how short it lasts.
• Beauty, Joy, and Melancholy (as women) → These feelings are shown like real people.
• Temple of Delight → Symbol of deep happiness or pleasure.