poetry
a type of literature in which words are chosen and arranged in specific ways to create an effect
poetry's purpose
to tell stories, express emotions, or paint pictures with words
speaker
the voice that talks to the reader
form
the way a poem is laid out on the page
stanzas
groups of lines
line break
where a line ends
traditional poems
poems that follow strict rules about lines, stanzas, rhythm, and rhyme
free verse
poems that have no recognizable patterns or rules; ideas dictate how the poem looks on the page; it often sounds like everyday speech
sound devices
techniques used to give poetry a musical quality; these can be found in traditional and free verse poetry
rhyme
repetition of sounds in words
end rhyme
rhyming of words at the end of lines
internal rhyme
rhyming of words within a line
slant rhyme
words having similar but not identical sounds
rhyme scheme
the pattern established by end rhymes
rhythm
the musical quality produced by the repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables; it can be found in traditional and free verse poetry; the "beat" of the poem
meter
a regular pattern of rhythm; poets create this by arranging words to form patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables; free verse poetry does not have this
onomatopoeia
words whose sounds echo their meanings; sound words
alliteration
repetition of consonant sound at the beginning or two or more nearby words
assonance
repetition of vowel sounds in words
consonance
repetition of consonant sounds either within or at the end of words
stressed syllable
a syllable that is emphasized
word choice
an important element of poetry because poets must choose them carefully to communicate their intended meaning and effect
imagery
language that helps a reader recreate, in his or her own mind, what the writer is describing.
imagery, word choice, sound devices, form
used to give poems meaning and tap into different emotions
sensory details
words that appeal to smell, touch, sight, hearing, and taste
figurative language
creative comparisons that are not literally true
simile
comparisons between two unlike things using like or as
metaphor
comparisons between two unlike things without using like or as; may use "be" verbs
personification
gives human traits to something that is non-human
hyperbole
exaggeration or overstatement to emphasize a point or create humor
idiom
an expression that means something different from the literal meaning of the individual words; "slang
pun
a play on words that have a similar sound but different meanings
lyric poetry
short poem; single speaker; expresses personal thoughts and feelings; can be traditional or free verse
line
the main unit of a poem
rhyme scheme
helps create meaning and emphasis in a poem