used in Poetry

a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

´ for stressed

˘ for unstressed

pattern of end rhymes in a poem

To indicate the rhyme scheme of a poem,

use a letter of the alphabet for each rhyme

Ex) aabb

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower,

But only so an hour.

rhymes at the end of lines

Ex) If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

~ Emily Dickinson

rhymes within a line

Ex) Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore –

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door –

Only this and nothing more.”

~ Edgar Allan Poe

rhymes involving sounds that are similar but not exactly the same

Ex) Leave/Live or Pain/Again

a group of consecutive lines in a poem that form a single unit

expresses a unit of thought

stanza = an Italian word for “stopping

place” or “place to rest”

a repeated sound, word, phrase, line, or group of lines

used to build rhythm or provide emphasis

Ex) “coming to America” in the song

“America” by Neil Diamond

the voice talking to us in a poem best to think of voice as a character the poet has

created

– character could be a child, a woman, a man, an animal, or an object; it is best to think of voice as a character the poet has created, not the actual poet

a metaphor that is extended, or developed, over several lines of writing or even throughout an entire work

Ex) “O Captain! My Captain!”

by Walt Whitman

a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing

does NOT use like or as

Ex) She has a heart of stone.

He is a bear in the morning.

a comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles

Ex) When you see me sitting quietly,

Like a sack left on the shelf,

Don’t think I need your chattering.

I’m listening to myself…

~ from “On Aging,” by Maya Angelou

the repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together

usually occurs at the beginning of words

Helps establish mood, emphasize words,

and serve as a memory aid

Ex) nodded, nearly napping

the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together

Ex) They are death’s snowbound sailors;

they know only a continual

drifting between moonlit islands,

their tongues licking the stars.

~ from “Wolves” by John Haines

the use of words whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning

Ex) Hear the sledges with the bells –

Silver bells!

What a world of merriment their melody foretells!

How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,

In the icy air of night!

While the stars that oversprinkle

All the Heavens, seem to twinkle

With a crystalline delight.

~ from “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe

language that appeals to the senses Ex) “A slow widening of her thin black lips to show even,

small white teeth, then the slow effortless closing.”

~ from “Mrs. Flowers” by Maya Angelou

a reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, the arts, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science

What are some examples from “The Raven”

by Edgar Allan Poe?

a figure of speech in which an object or animal is spoken of as if it had human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.

Ex) Slowly, silently, now the moon

Walks the night in her silver shoon;

This way, and that, she peers and sees

Silver fruit upon silver trees.

~ from “Silver” by Walter de la Mare

a person, a place, a thing, or an event that has meaning in itself and stands for something beyond itself as well.

Ex) bald eagle = United States

Star of David = Judaism

cross = Christianity

white dove = peace

an exaggeration or overstatement used for effect

Ex) “His smile was so wide he’d have to break it into

sections to fit it through the doorway.”

~ from Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

a two (2) line stanza Ex) But do not so; I love thee in such sort,

As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

a four (4) line stanza Ex) Let me confess that we two must be twain,

Although our undivided loves are one;

So shall these blots that do with me remain,

Without thy help, by me be borne alone.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

a six (6) line stanza Ex) I may not evermore acknowledge thee,

Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame;

Nor thou with public kindness honour me,

Unless thou take that honour from thy name:

But do not so; I love thee in such sort,

As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

an eight (8) line stanza Ex) Let me confess that we two must be twain,

Although our undivided loves are one;

So shall these blots that do with me remain,

Without thy help, by me be borne alone.

In our two loves there is but one respect,

Though in our lives a separable spite,

Which though it alter not love’s sole effect,

Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love’s delight.

~ from “Sonnet 36” by William Shakespeare

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning