Poetry Terms
Rhyme (external)
Definition: repetition of sounds that sound the same at the end of a line Purpose: reinforce an idea made in the poem at a specific time
Rhyme (internal)
Definition: repetition of sounds within a line of poetry that sound the same Purpose: adds musical element
Consonance
Definition: repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase, often taking place in quick succession Purpose: emphasizes certain words
Caesura
Definition: rhythmical pause in a poetic line or a sentence; can be initial (at the beginning of a line), media (in the middle of a line), or terminal (at the end of a line) Purpose: create rhythm, a dramatic effect, and emphasis
Foot
Definition: a basic repeated sequence of meter composed of at least two stressed or unstressed syllables. The stressed syllable is generally indicated by a vertical line (Ꞌ) or slash (/), whereas the unstressed syllable is represented by a cross (x) or (u). Purpose: creates meter in poetry when combined
Conceit
Definition: a figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors Purpose: creates surprise and shock; points to a parallel between two dissimilar things (e.g. "The Acrobat")
Iamb
Definition: a foot containing unaccented and short syllables (unstressed) followed by a long and accented syllable (stressed) in a single line of a poem Purpose: adds emphasis; creates drama
Ode
Definition: a formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and often celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea Purpose: often praises people, natural scenes, and abstract ideas
English Sonnet
Definition: a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter with three quatrains, an ending couplet, and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG Purpose: allows examples of strict and formal poems
Italian Sonnet
Definition: a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. The first eight lines are the octave (ABBA ABBA), and the last six are the sestet (varied rhyme scheme). There is a "volta," or "turning" of the subject matter between the octave and sestet. Purpose: octave presents the problem; sestet solves the problem
Pentameter
Definition: a line in verse or poetry that has five strong metrical feet or beats; a line consisting of ten syllables, where the first syllable is stressed, the second is unstressed, the third is stressed and so on until it reaches the 10th line syllable Purpose: emphasizes words; establishes style and rhythm
Inverted Line (Sentence)
Definition: a literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve a particular effect of emphasis or meter Purpose: adds depth and interest
Epic
Definition: a long narrative poem with an exalted style and heroic theme; centered on a hero in a story of great achievements or events depicted in an elevated style Purpose: tell stories easily
Dirge
Definition: a lyric poem or song commemorating a death and expressing grief; shorter than an elegy Purpose: conveys sadness and mourning
Connotation
Definition: a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly Purpose: evokes positive or negative emotions towards a subject; changes the mood
Trochee
Definition: a metrical foot of two syllables, one long (or stressed) and one short (or unstressed) Purpose: creates rhythm and a repetitive pattern
Measure
Definition: a metrical grouping, such as a foot or a verse, or a period of time Purpose: often used as a synonym for meter; provides structure and pattern
Lyric
Definition: a poem expressing personal emotion; expression of observations and feelings of a single speaker Purpose: expresses a personal state of mind
Elegy
Definition: a poem or song in the form of elegiac couplets, written in honor of someone deceased; expresses sorrow, then admiration, and then solace Purpose: typically laments or mourns the death of the individual; signifies a meditation on love inflected with a sense of mortality
Refrain
Definition: a regularly recurring phrase or verse, especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song Purpose: emphasizes an idea through repetition
Loose Line (Sentence)
Definition: a sentence structure in which a main clause is followed by one or more coordinate or subordinate phrases and clauses Purpose: emphasizes the main idea of a sentence
Sestet
Definition: a six-line stanza or unit of poetry Purpose: brings a solution in an Italian sonnet
Enjambment
Definition: a thought or sense, phrase or clause in a line of poetry that does not come to an end at the line break but moves over to the next line without a terminating punctuation mark Purpose: creates rhythm and flow
Meter
Definition: a unit of rhythm in poetry Purpose: serves as a linguistic sound pattern; creates a rhythmical and melodious sound
Octave
Definition: a verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter Purpose: organizes the poem; presents the problem in an Italian sonnet
Quatrain
Definition: a verse with four lines, or even a full poem containing four lines, usually having rhyme or meter Purpose: promotes rhyme and rhythm; promotes structure
Persona
Definition: fictitious narrator imagined by the poet to speak the words of a poem Purpose: puts the subject into perspective
Stanza
Definition: group of poetic lines corresponding to paragraphs in prose. The meters and rhymes are usually repeating or systematic. Purpose: provides structure
Controlling Image
Definition: metaphor that dominates an entire work Purpose: describes theme using familiar topics/images
Cadence
Definition: momentary changes in rhythm and pitch Purpose: signals the rising and falling of voice; sets rhythm
Stress
Definition: placing emphasis on certain syllables and sounds; making certain parts of a word sound more important Purpose: creates rhyme and emphasis
Free Verse
Definition: poetry without a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern Purpose: gives the poet freedom yet still allows the use of alliteration, rhyme, cadences or rhythms
Ellipsis
Definition: series of three dots that can stand in for whole sections of omitted text without changing the meaning; a linguistically appropriate omission of words that are mutually understood and thus unnecessary Purpose: expresses a thought or action more concisely; avoid redundancy
Scansion
Definition: the process of marking beats in a poem to establish the prevailing metrical pattern. Pronunciation of a song or poem is key. Purpose: analyze rhythm; identify patterns
Alliteration
Definition: the repetition of identical sounds, most often the sounds beginning words, in close proximity Purpose: emphasizes words; imitates sound; creates a musical effect
Assonance
Definition: the repetition of identical vowel sounds in different words in close proximity Purpose: changes the mood; long vowel sounds are more serious; short vowel sounds are less serious
Dissonance
Definition: the use of discordant sounds; often created by the repetition of harsh vowel sounds Purpose: creates an unpleasant effect; establishes an interesting variation from what is rhythmically expected
Euphony
Definition: the use of words and phrases that are distinguished as having a wide range of noteworthy melody or loveliness in the sounds they create Purpose: gives pleasing and soothing effects to the ears due to repeated vowels and smooth consonants; can be used with other literary devices like alliteration, assonance and rhyme to create more melodic effects
Cacophony
Definition: the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing and unmelodious sounds primarily those of consonants to achieve desired results Purpose: sounds unpleasant or awkward; creates irritated tone
Couplet
Definition: two successive rhyming lines in a verse with the same meter to form a complete thought; marked by a usual rhythm, rhyme scheme, and incorporation of specific utterances Purpose: creates rhythm with a rhyming effect
Blank Verse
Definition: unrhymed poem written in iambic pentameter; consistent meter with ten syllables in each line; unstressed syllables are followed by stressed ones and five of which are stressed but do not rhyme Purpose: mimics natural speech