Ambiguity

Ambiguity is a deliberate or accidental openness of meaning in a poem, where a word, image, phrase, or line can be understood in more than one way. Poets may use it to create tension, mystery, irony, or layered meaning, inviting readers to pause and consider different interpretations at once.

Ambiguity is not the same as confusion: the best examples give the reader enough clues to sense several possible meanings without settling on only one.

Example

The glass of dawn broke over the hill
and morning filled the room.
She held the letter to the light
and watched it bloom.

Related Definitions

[n] unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning
[n] an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context

Links

Synonyms

equivocalness

Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace