speaker
the narrator of a poem
line
a group of words on one line of a poem
stanza
a group of lines arranged together
couplet
a two line stanza that rhymes
rhythm
can be created by meter, rhyme, alliteration and refrain
meter
a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
Free verse
no repeating patterns of syllables, no rhyme, conversational, modern
end rhyme
a word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line
Lyric poem
A poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet in musical language.
rhyme scheme
a pattern of rhyme (usually end rhyme, but not always); this pattern is shown with letters (ABBA, AABB)
onomatopoeia
words that imitate the sound they name: Boom! Bam!, Whoosh!, Knock!
alliteration
consonant sounds repeated at the beginnings of words
assonance
a type of alliteration in which repeated vowel sounds are in a line or lines of poetry
refrain
a phrase, line, or stanza repeated regularly in a poem
simile
a comparison of two things using like, as, or than
metaphor
a direct comparison of two unlike things without using like or as
hyperbole
exaggeration often used for emphasis
idiom
an expression in which the literal meaning of the words is not the meaning of the expression
personification
an object, something natural, or an animal is given life-like qualities
symbol
a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself also represents something else
allusion
a reference in a literary work to something famous
imagery
language that appeals to the senses; putting a picture in your mind with words
Ballad
a song or songlike poem that rhymes
Sonnet
a fourteen line poem with a specific rhyme scheme
Narrative poem
a poem that tells a story
Concrete poem
a poem in which the words are arranged to create a picture that relates to the content of the poem
rhyme
the repetition of sounds at the ends of words
repetition
the use of a word, phrase, sound, or line more than once
figurative language
the use of creative comparisons to describe familiar things in new ways
Haiku
A form of Japanese poetry in which 17 syllables are arranged in three lines of 5,7,and 5 syllables.
tone
The attitude the writer has towards his work
mood
the feeling or atmosphere created by the poem
Limerick
A short, humorous poem consisting of five lines. Lines 1, 2, and 5 have seven to ten syllables, rhyme and have the same verbal rhythm. The 3rd and 4th lines have five to seven syllables, rhyme and have the same rhythm.
extended metaphor
comparions between two things without using like/as/than drawn out for more than one line. Ex: "She was a book: every time I studied her, I learned something
Epic poem
long, narrative poem about a hero/quest, e.g., The Odyssey
iambic pentameter
5 (penta) feet of unstressed/stressed syllable (iams), e.g., "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day
understatement
technique of emphasizing by saying less than is literally true; opposite of hyberbole
oxymoron
two words together containing contradictory meanings: "deafening silence
Quatrain
a group of four lines of poetry where lines 2 and 4 rhyme
dialect
a variety of language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers
Cinquain
5 line poem-
Line 1: one word (subject or noun), Line 2: two words (adjectives) that describe line 1, Line 3:three words (action verbs) that relate to line 1 (can be phrase!), Line 4: four words(feelings or a complete sentence) that relates to line 1,
Lin
Ode
a lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject
Elegy
A solemn and formal lyric poem about death. It may mourn a particular person or reflect on a serious or tragic theme like war.