POETRY STRUCTURE
AND TERMINOLOGY
POEM
A type of literature in which words are
carefully chosen and arranged to create
certain effects.
POETRY
TERMINOLOGY
RHYME
The repetition of the same/similar
sounds at the end of two or more words
found at the end of lines in a poem. (end
Roses are red
rhyme) I think they bled
Thats why theyre blue
And now so are you
RHYME SCHEME
The poems pattern of end rhymes.
INTERNAL RHYME
To have similar sounding words in the
same line of a poem.
The red roses bled
And now they are dead
COUPLET
A couple of (2) lines that end with the
same rhyme.
SYLLABLE
A word chunk that contains only one vowel sound
(though not necessarily one vowel)
Example:
- boot --- 1
- an/im/os/i/ty --- 5
- pre/tend --- 2
- how/e/ver --- 3
- which --- 1
IAMB
A collection of two syllables, where the second syllable is
stressed and the first is not. (Not all poetry use iambs, but it is a
popular building structure.) Iambic meter helps to create a
rhythm and flow within a poem.
METER
A careful arrangement of a poetic verse based on
syllables and their accents.
FOOT
A set of two syllables.
QUATRAIN
A group of four verses (lines) that make
up their own stanza (like a paragraph).
STANZA
A paragraph-like unit to organize a poem; a
distinct collection of two or more lines;
characterized by a common pattern of meter,
rhyme, and/or number of lines.
Couplet = two line stanza
Tercet= three line stanza
Quatrain = four line stanza
Quintet= five line stanza
Sextet = six line stanza
Octet = eight line stanza
VERSE
A type of stanza that typically comes between
choruses of music or poetry.
ENJAMBMENT
Continuing a thought, phrase, or
sentence across at least two lines of a
poem.
RHYTHM
The specific pattern or beat to which a work is
set.
stressed ( )
or
unstressed ( )
POETRY DEVICES
Devices are also known as FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
When words are used to make comparisons or
descriptions but not meant to be believed
literally or as an actual description of an
event/object/person/etc.
LITERAL LANGUAGE
Words that can be taken literally to mean what
they are actually stating; the opposite of
figurative language.
SIMILE
Making comparisons using the words like or
as. Remember to compare is to say two or
more things are similar or almost the same.
METAPHOR
Making comparisons without using the words
like or as. Rather it is saying one thing is
another.
PERSONIFICATION
When an object or animal is given human-like
characteristics.
IMAGERY
Words that help you visualize a scene, or paints
a picture in your mind. It also emphasizes the
experiences of the 5 senses.
SYMBOL
The use of objects or words to represent
something figuratively. The object/word
represents itself as well as something else.
REPETITION
The recurrence of sounds, words, phrases,
lines, or stanzas. Used to emphasize an idea.
3
ALLITERATION
The repetition of consonant sounds/letters at
the beginnings of words.
Red roses rarely rapidly raise
2
ASSONANCE
The repetition of vowel sounds in words that do
not end with the same consonant sound.
1
CONSONANCE
The repetition of consonant sounds within and
at the end of words.
ONOMATOPOEIA
Words that demonstrate the sound they
describe.
IRONY
Words used in a way that their meaning is
different / opposite from their actual meaning.
MOOD
The emotional quality or atmosphere of a piece that the reader
experiences.
TONE
The perspective or attitude the author portrays
in a piece of literature.
AUTHORS PURPOSE
The reason the writer wrote what he/she wrote;
to inform, entertain, or persuade.
DICTION
An authors choice of words.
DENOTATION
The dictionary definition of a word.
CONNOTATION
The implied meaning and feeling a word
conveys.
