Contrast

• After identifying the subject of the poem, we must identify the speaker, who provides the poem's "voice"
• We view the world through the speaker's perspective. Don't jump to the conclusion that the speaker and author are the same
• Usually the speaker is a persona, character created by the poet to communicate a particular mood, purpose, or attitude about particular story at a particular time

Juxtapositions

Placing two words or concepts side by side, often to emphasize their incongruity. Reveals the speaker's attitude toward a subject

Antithesis

Contradictory ideas/words in parallel grammatical structure

Paradox

Words that appear to contradict each other but offer a deeper meaning

Oxymoron

Two seemingly contradictory words that are right next to each other.