verse
one line of poetry
couplet
two consecutive rhyming lines of poetry
stanza
a group of two, three, four lines of poetry -comparable to a paragraph in prose
rhyme
the repetition of vowel and consonant sounds at the end of two or more words
rhyme scheme
the regular pattern of rhyming words in a phrase described by using the alphabet (ABABCDCDEFEF)
approximate or slant rhyme
when the rhyming sounds are similar rather than identical (prove, glove)
external or end rhyme
the rhyming words are at the end of a line of poetry
internal rhyme
when the rhyming words are within a line of poetry
assonance
the repetition of vowel sounds within 2 or more words (I, lie)
alliteration
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of 2 or more words (she sells sea shells at the sea shore)
onomatopoeia
a word which sounds like its meaning (buzz, boo, hiss)
simile
a comparison using like or as (eats like a pig)
metaphor
a comparison that does not use like or as (she is a computer)
hyperbole
an exaggeration made for emphasis or humor
personification
human qualities given to non-humans (the desk cried)
imagery
words which appeal to the readers senses
meter
the rhythmical pattern of poetry(the beat). Meter is determined by the number and types of beats in each line of a poem. A stressed syllable is indicated by a "/" symbol and an unstressed syllable is indicated by "u" symbol
iambic
an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (u/)
around = u / = a round
u /
trochaic
a foot with one stressed syllable followed by an unstressed (/u)
broken = /u = bro ken
/ u
anapestic
a foot with 2 unstressed syllables followed by a stressed (uu/)
in a flash = u u /
u u /
dactylic
a foot with one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (/uu)
argument = /uu = ar gu ment
/ u u
spondee
a foot with two stressed syllables (//)
airship = // = air ship
/ /
number of feet in a line of poetry
number of rhythmic units in line of poetry
monometer
one foot in a line
dimeter
two feet in a line
tetrameter
four feet in a line
pentameter
five feet in a line
meter
is the combination of the types of rhythmic unit as well as the number of feet in a line of poetry;therefore it must be described using two words. (iambic pentameter =
u/ u/ u/ u/ u/ = 5 iambic units)
scan
to determine a poem?s metrical pattern by marking the unstressed, stressed syllables)
blank verse
unrhymed poetry written with rhythm
free verse
poetry without rhythm or rhyme
haiku
Japanese poetry with 3 lines and 17 syllables. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables and the third line has 5
limerick
humorous poem with 5 lines. The 1st, 2nd and 5th lines rhyme
sonnet
14 line poem written in one stanza with a specific rhyme scheme