alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
apostrophe
a technique by which a writer addresses an inanimate object, an idea, or a person who is either dead or absent ex. a lady in a tapestry, or the wind
assonance
Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity
consonance
repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong
Couplet
two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme
epigram
a short quotation or verse that precedes a poem (or any text) that sets a tone, provides a setting, or gives some other context for the poem
fixed form
a type of poetry that is dependent on a certain number of lines, stanzas, or patterns. Examples of fixed forms are the sonnet, villanelle, and sestina.
iambic pentameter
a common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable; EX.
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge
metaphor
a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without the use of such specific words of comparison as like, as, than, or resembles
imagery
the ability to form mental images of things or events
metaphysical conceit
an elaborate, intellectually ingenious metaphor that shows the poet's realm of knowledge; it may be brief or extended
meter
the rhythmic pattern of poetry
personification
to personify is to attribute human qualities or characteristics to nonliving things
anthropomorphism
the attribution of human characteristics to animals
pun
a play on words where the juxtaposition of meanings is ironic or humorous
rhyme (internal rhyme)
rhyme scheme within a poem
Rhyme (rhyme scheme)
The pattern or sequence in which end rhyme occurs throughout a poem. The first end sound is represented with an "a," the second end sound is represented with a "b," and so on. When the first sound is repeated at the end of another line within the poem, it
rhythm
the beat or music of a poem. A regular beat indicates a metrical pattern
sestet
a rhythmic group of six lines of verse
simile
a comparison of two things using like, as, than, or resembles
speaker
the narrative voice of a poem. A poem generally has only one speaker, but some poems may have more than one
stanza
the "paragraph" of a poem, whether consisting of equal or unequal number of lines
stanzaic form
refers to a poem that has stanzas
continuous form
a poem without stanzas
structure
the way the poem built, such as three stanzas of terza rima, or one stanza (continuous form) of successive couplets
synechdoche (sin-eck-doe-key)
the use of a part for the whole, such as "all hands on deck
tone
the emotional quality of a poem, such as regretful or contemplative. Tone also refers to the speaker's attitude (feelings about) a particular thing or idea
unity
the degree to which elements of a poem work together to produce a coherent effect
enjambment
A run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.