Poetic Terms

Verse

A line of poetry or a poem within itself

Rhyme

Repetition of similar sounding syllables in different words

Eye Rhyme

Rhyme that looks correct by spelling but not by sound

Adjacent Rhyme

Verses that rhyme at the end of each verse

Alternating Rhyme

The end words of alternating line rhyme

Feminine Rhyme

Rhyme is at the unstressed syllable of the word

Masculine Rhyme

Rhyme is at the stressed syllable of the word

Half Rhyme

Rhyme that happens only on the first syllable of the word

Internal Rhyme

Rhyme within a line

Near Rhyme/Slant Rhyme

Sounds similar but not exact

Onomatopoeia

Words that are spelled like that sound

Rhyme Scheme

A pattern of rhyming in a poetic work that is marked by a letter of the alphabet

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds in the beginning or middle of each word

Assonance

When two or more words use the same vowel sounds with different consonant sounds

Consonance

When two or more words use the same consonant sounds with different vowel sounds

Cacophony

An unpleasant spoken sound created by a clashing consonants

Euphony

Combination of words to create a pleasant sound to the ear

Extended Metaphor

A comparison of 2 or more unlike things that go beyond a line

Antithesis

Words or phrases with opposite meanings that are balanced against each other

Parallelism

When similar grammatical structure are used or words and phrases are repeated for a deeper meaning

Conceit

A far fetched metaphor using unrelated things

Paradox

Statement that contradicts itself but also makes sense

Figurative Language

A figure of speech that compares two or more objects, non-literal language

Scansion

Analyzing meters in a poem by scanning the lines to determine the number ad types of feet per line by marking syllables as stressed and unstressed

Iamb

Two syllables unstressed and stressed, most common rhythm

Trochee

A two syllable unit or foot of poetry with stressed and unstressed (opposite of iamb)

Meter

A measure of rhythmic quantity measured in foot

Blank Verse

Poetry written without rhyme but with iambic pentameter

Free Verse

Poetry without rhyme or structure, focus not on structure but meaning

Elegy

A sad solemn and thoughtful poem usually written for someone's death

Ballad

Narrative poem with stanzas of two or more line, last words in line 2 and 4 rhyme, alternating lines

Sonnet

A poem with 14 lines and a set rhyme scheme. Italian and English

Stanza

Two or more line of poetry that together form a division of a poem

Couplet

2 line stanza

Tercet

3 line stanza

Quatrain

4 line stanza

Sestet

6 line stanza

Octave

8 line stanza

Enjambment

Line scheme where clauses or sentences is broken with two or more lines

End-Stopped

A line with a pause at the end (end mark)

Antistrophe/Epistrophe

A repetition of a word or phrases at the end of a line

Catachresis

Misuse or abuse of words that usually results from a hyperbole or synesthesia

Caesura

A break or pause that occurs in the middle of a line that uses punctuation for emphasis

Anaphora

A repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of verses