Poetry TermsPoetry Terms

ProseProse

All forms of writing that are not in All forms of writing that are not in verse form. The term may be used verse form. The term may be used to describe very different forms of to describe very different forms of writing – short stories as well as writing – short stories as well as essaysessays

Ex. “She was a large woman with a Ex. “She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails.”but hammer and nails.”

PoetryPoetry

A type of literature in which words are A type of literature in which words are carefully chosen and arranged to create carefully chosen and arranged to create certain effects. Poets use a variety of certain effects. Poets use a variety of sound devices, imagery, and figurative sound devices, imagery, and figurative language to express emotions and ideas.language to express emotions and ideas.

Ex.: Ex.: It was many and many a year ago,It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the seaIn a kingdom by the sea

That a maiden lived there whom you may knowThat a maiden lived there whom you may know

By the name of Annabel LeeBy the name of Annabel Lee

StanzaStanza

A group of two or more lines that A group of two or more lines that form a unit in a poem, similar to a form a unit in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose writing.paragraph in prose writing.

Ex.: Ex.: So if, my dear, there sometimes seems to beSo if, my dear, there sometimes seems to be

Old bridges breaking between you and me.Old bridges breaking between you and me.

RefrainRefrain

One or more lines repeated in each One or more lines repeated in each stanza of a poem.stanza of a poem.

Ex.: “In this kingdom by the sea” in Ex.: “In this kingdom by the sea” in “Annabel Lee” “Annabel Lee”

True/Exact RhymeTrue/Exact Rhyme

Rhyme in which the stressed vowels and all following consonants and vowel sounds are identical, but the consonants preceding the rhyming vowels are different.

Ex.: chain, brain; soul, pole.

Types of RhymeTypes of Rhyme

External/end rhymeExternal/end rhyme – rhyming words come – rhyming words come at the ends of lines; most common type of at the ends of lines; most common type of rhymerhyme

Ex.: Never fear. We may let the scaffolds Ex.: Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fallfall

Confident that we have built our Confident that we have built our wallwall..

Internal rhymeInternal rhyme – rhyme that occurs within a – rhyme that occurs within a line of poetryline of poetry

Ex.:Ex.: Can Can ever disseverever dissever my soul from the soul my soul from the soul

RhythmRhythm

A pattern of stressed and unstressed A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Poets syllables in a line of poetry. Poets use rhythm to bring out the musical use rhythm to bring out the musical quality of language, to emphasize quality of language, to emphasize ideas, and to create moods.ideas, and to create moods.

““ThThĕĕn from thn from thĕĕ gladd gladdĕĕned multned multĭĭtude tude wwĕĕnt up nt up ăă joyo joyoŭŭs yell.”s yell.”

RepetitionRepetition

A technique in which a sound, word, A technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or unity. Repetition often emphasis or unity. Repetition often helps to reinforce meaning and create helps to reinforce meaning and create an appealing rhythm.an appealing rhythm.

Ex.: Cannon to the right of themEx.: Cannon to the right of them

Cannon to the left of themCannon to the left of them

Cannon in front of themCannon in front of them

MeterMeter

the regular pattern of stressed and the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.unstressed syllables.

Ex.: The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty Ex.: The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.trees.

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

When words are used in an imaginative When words are used in an imaginative way to express ideas that are not literally way to express ideas that are not literally true.true.

Ex.:Ex.:MetaphorMetaphor – “He’s a bear in the morning.” – “He’s a bear in the morning.”SimileSimile – “She is as cold as ice.” – “She is as cold as ice.” IdiomIdiom – “It’s raining cats and dogs.” – “It’s raining cats and dogs.”PersonificationPersonification – “The book spoke to – “The book spoke to

me.”me.”

AlliterationAlliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of wordsat the beginnings of words

Alliteration gives emphasis to Alliteration gives emphasis to certain words (like repetition)certain words (like repetition)

Ex.: “Over the Ex.: “Over the ccobbles he obbles he clclattered and attered and clclashed,”ashed,”

PersonificationPersonification

The giving of human qualities to an The giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or ideaanimal, object, or idea

Ex.: The wind whispered through the Ex.: The wind whispered through the trees.trees.

MetaphorMetaphor

AA figure of speech that compares figure of speech that compares seemingly unlike things.seemingly unlike things.

Ex.: The road was a ribbon of Ex.: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.moonlight.

ImageryImagery

Consists of words and phrases that Consists of words and phrases that appeal to a reader’s five senses.appeal to a reader’s five senses.

Ex.: A boy on a lake lifts his oarsEx.: A boy on a lake lifts his oars

MoodMood

The feeling created in the reader by a The feeling created in the reader by a literary work.literary work.

Ex.: sadnessEx.: sadnessAnd so, all the night tide, I lie down by the sideAnd so, all the night tide, I lie down by the side

Of my darling, my darling, my life and my brideOf my darling, my darling, my life and my bride

In her sepulcher by the seaIn her sepulcher by the sea

ToneTone

The writer’s attitude toward his/her The writer’s attitude toward his/her audience and/or subjectaudience and/or subject

Ex.: impending doomEx.: impending doom““There was death at every windowThere was death at every window

And hell at one dark window.”And hell at one dark window.”

Free VerseFree Verse

Poetry without regular patterns of Poetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm.rhyme and rhythm.

Ex.:Ex.:

Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.

A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,

And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,

I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,

Interpretive MeaningInterpretive Meaning

An explanation of the theme of a poem An explanation of the theme of a poem using your own words.using your own words.

Ex.: The Highwayman is both a hero and a criminal. Ex.: The Highwayman is both a hero and a criminal. Therefore, the reader can admire him, although he is a Therefore, the reader can admire him, although he is a thief.thief.

Traditional & IrregularTraditional & Irregular

Traditional poetryTraditional poetry uses a regular pattern of uses a regular pattern of rhymerhyme

Ex.: Tell me tales of a lilied poolEx.: Tell me tales of a lilied poolAsleep beneath the sunAsleep beneath the sun

Tell me of woodlands deep and cool,Tell me of woodlands deep and cool,When chuckling satyrs runWhen chuckling satyrs run

Irregular poetryIrregular poetry is written in free verse is written in free verseEx.: old age sticksEx.: old age sticks

up Keep up Keep OffOff

signssigns

Epic & LyricEpic & LyricEpic PoemEpic Poem – A long narrative poem – A long narrative poem

about the adventures of a hero whose about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or a group of people.a nation or a group of people.

Ex. “The Highwayman”Ex. “The Highwayman”

Lyric PoemLyric Poem – Poem that presents the – Poem that presents the personal thoughts and feelings of a personal thoughts and feelings of a single speaker.single speaker.

Ex. “Annabel Lee”Ex. “Annabel Lee”

Ballad poetryBallad poetry

A type of narrative poem that tells a A type of narrative poem that tells a story and was originally meant to be story and was originally meant to be sungsung or or recitedrecited..

Ex. “The Highwayman”Ex. “The Highwayman”

And the highwayman came riding-And the highwayman came riding-

riding-riding-riding-riding-

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

Narrative poetryNarrative poetry

Poetry that tells a story. Contains Poetry that tells a story. Contains characters, a setting and a plot.characters, a setting and a plot.

Ex. “Casey at the Bat”Ex. “Casey at the Bat”

And when the dust had lifted, and they saw what had occurred, And when the dust had lifted, and they saw what had occurred,

There was Blakey safe at second, and Flynn a-huggin’ third.There was Blakey safe at second, and Flynn a-huggin’ third.

GraphicalGraphical

A form of visual poetry where the A form of visual poetry where the type-face is laid out to present a type-face is laid out to present a pictorial representation of the subject pictorial representation of the subject of the poem. of the poem.