POETRY TERMSPOETRY TERMS

An Exciting LanguageAn Exciting Language

OXYMORON:OXYMORON: joining contradictory terms joining contradictory terms to make a point or emphasize a phrase... to make a point or emphasize a phrase...

(the cold sun, the kind killer, the small (the cold sun, the kind killer, the small giant...)giant...)

example: excerpt from "He Stands Upon example: excerpt from "He Stands Upon His Tower Gazing"His Tower Gazing"

Together they are apart,Together they are apart,

apart together; opposed in flesh, apart together; opposed in flesh,

combined in spirit.combined in spirit.

Apart is dependence but no freedom:Apart is dependence but no freedom:

together fleshly- one, together fleshly- one,

but feelingbut feeling

separate.separate.

- Richard C. - Richard C. GuchesGuches

STANZA:STANZA:

a grouping of lines in a grouping of lines in a poem (like a poem (like

paragraphs in an paragraphs in an essay)essay)

REFRAIN:REFRAIN:

repetition of a group repetition of a group of lines, similar to the of lines, similar to the

chorus of a songchorus of a song

RHYME:RHYME:

repetition of end repetition of end sounds of words at sounds of words at the same places the same places

(usually end of each (usually end of each line)line)

RHYME SCHEME:RHYME SCHEME:

the patterns of rhyme the patterns of rhyme in a stanza (usually in a stanza (usually mapped out using mapped out using

A,B,C etc.)A,B,C etc.)

example: To Electra A I dare not ask a kiss, B I dare not beg a smile, A Lest having that, or this, B I might grow proud the while. A No, no, the utmost share B Of my desire shall be A Only to kiss the air B That lately kissed thee. - Robert Herrick

IMAGERY:IMAGERY:

1. sensory impressions 1. sensory impressions and and

2. figurative language2. figurative language

1. 1. Sensory impressions:Sensory impressions:

writing which appeals writing which appeals to the senses (sight, to the senses (sight, taste, sound, touch, taste, sound, touch,

smell)smell)

examples: salty, examples: salty, smooth, rotten, jinglesmooth, rotten, jingle

2. 2. Figurative language:Figurative language:

similessimiles (like or as), (like or as), metaphorsmetaphors (is, are, am), (is, are, am),

and and personificationpersonification (human characteristics to (human characteristics to

inanimate objects or inanimate objects or animals) to communicate a animals) to communicate a

more symbolic meaning, more symbolic meaning, rather than literal.rather than literal.

Example:Moons

There are moons like continentsDiminishing to a white stone

Softly smokingIn a fog-bound ocean.

Equinoctial moons, Immense rain barrels spilling

their yellow water.

Moons like eyes turned inward,Hard and bulging

On the blue cheek of eternity.

And moons half-broken,Eaten by eagle shadows...

But the moon of the poet Is soiled and scratched, its seas

Are flowing with dust.

And other moons are rising, Swollen like boils-

In their blood shot depthsThe warfare of planets

Silently drips and festers.

- John Highness

ASSONANCE:ASSONANCE:

(or near rhyme) (or near rhyme) where stressed where stressed vowels in words vowels in words agree but the agree but the

consonants do notconsonants do not

Example:Example:

Excerpt from 258 Excerpt from 258

When it comes, the When it comes, the Landscape Landscape listenslistens

Shadows-hold their Shadows-hold their breath-breath-

When it goes, ‘tis like the When it goes, ‘tis like the DistanceDistance

On the look of death-On the look of death-

-Emily Dickinson-Emily Dickinson

ALLITERATION:ALLITERATION:

(Or (Or head rhymehead rhyme) the ) the echo of the first echo of the first sound of several sound of several words in a linewords in a line

Example: The Example: The ssupercilious upercilious ssnake nake ssuddenly and uddenly and ssoftly oftly hissed his message.hissed his message.

FREE VERSE:FREE VERSE:

Poetry that doesn’t Poetry that doesn’t rhyme and doesn’t rhyme and doesn’t

have a constant have a constant syllable count or line.syllable count or line.

BLANK VERSE:BLANK VERSE:

Poetry that doesn’t Poetry that doesn’t rhyme but follows rhyme but follows

syllable or stressed syllable or stressed patterns. patterns.

From From Romeo and JuietRomeo and Juiet

““but soft! What light through but soft! What light through yonder window breaksyonder window breaks

It is the east and Juliet is the It is the east and Juliet is the sun!sun!

Arise, fair sin, and kill the Arise, fair sin, and kill the envious moonenvious moon

Who is already sick and pale Who is already sick and pale with griefwith grief

That thou her maid art far That thou her maid art far more fair than she.”more fair than she.”

ONOMATOPEIA:ONOMATOPEIA:

Words which Words which represent sounds represent sounds

(buzz, moo, meow, (buzz, moo, meow, swish, whirr, hiss)swish, whirr, hiss)

HYPERBOLE:HYPERBOLE:

When conscious When conscious exaggeration is used, exaggeration is used, not taken literally but not taken literally but for emotional effectfor emotional effect

UNDERSTATEMENT:UNDERSTATEMENT:

When the literal When the literal sense of what is said sense of what is said

falls short of the falls short of the magnitude of what is magnitude of what is being talked about; being talked about; also used for effectalso used for effect

PERSONA:PERSONA:The “second self” of the The “second self” of the

poet; when a poet poet; when a poet creates a character of creates a character of

his/herself who is his/herself who is writing the poem writing the poem

(narrator or speaker (narrator or speaker who is separate from who is separate from

the poet)the poet)

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes Well, son, I ' ll tell you: Lif e f or me ain't been no crystal stair. I t's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor- Bare. But all the time I 'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's And turnin' corners.

And sometimes goin' in the darkWhere there ain't been no light.So boy, don't you turn back.Don't you set down on those steps'Cause you find it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now- For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin',And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.