POETRY TERMSPOETRY TERMSThe basics:The basics:

Line – A group of words, though sometimes Line – A group of words, though sometimes just a single word, that make up the same just a single word, that make up the same

horizontal line of text.horizontal line of text.

Rhyme – Two words that sound alike. The Rhyme – Two words that sound alike. The vowel sound is the same, but the initial vowel sound is the same, but the initial

consonant sound is different consonant sound is different

Stanza – Two or more lines grouped together Stanza – Two or more lines grouped together within a poem.within a poem.

Types of stanzas:Types of stanzas:Couplet – A stanza consisting of 2 lines.Couplet – A stanza consisting of 2 lines.

Wave after wave in hills each other crowds,Wave after wave in hills each other crowds,As if the deeps resolved to storm the clouds. As if the deeps resolved to storm the clouds.

Tercet – A stanza consisting of 3 lines. Haikus are Tercet – A stanza consisting of 3 lines. Haikus are tercets.tercets.

Quatrain – A stanza consisting of 4 lines.Quatrain – A stanza consisting of 4 lines.I never saw a MoorI never saw a MoorI never saw the seaI never saw the seaYet know I how the Heather looksYet know I how the Heather looksAnd what a Billow be.And what a Billow be.

Sestet – A stanza consisting of 6 lines.Sestet – A stanza consisting of 6 lines.

Octave – A stanza consisting of 8 lines.Octave – A stanza consisting of 8 lines.

Types of poetry:Types of poetry:Narrative poetryNarrative poetry – Poems that tell a story. – Poems that tell a story. The The

Odyssey Odyssey is an epic, narrative poem.is an epic, narrative poem.

Lyric poetryLyric poetry – Poems that express the thoughts – Poems that express the thoughts and feeling of the author, usually rhymed.and feeling of the author, usually rhymed.

HaikuHaiku – Japanese, three-line poems that consist of – Japanese, three-line poems that consist of seventeen syllables and usually captures an seventeen syllables and usually captures an image from everyday life.image from everyday life.

SonnetSonnet – A fourteen lined poem that follows a strict – A fourteen lined poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and structure.rhyme scheme and structure.

Free VerseFree Verse – Poems that are not written within – Poems that are not written within formal constraints of rhyme and meter.formal constraints of rhyme and meter.

Figurative language:Figurative language:ImageryImagery – Words used to describe things in a way that – Words used to describe things in a way that

appeals to the reader’s senses.appeals to the reader’s senses.

MetaphorMetaphor – A comparison between two seemingly – A comparison between two seemingly unrelated subjects.unrelated subjects.

““All the world’s a stage” (comparing the world to a stage)All the world’s a stage” (comparing the world to a stage)

SimileSimile – A comparison using like or as. – A comparison using like or as.

““Fast like a cheetah” or “Hungry as a bear”Fast like a cheetah” or “Hungry as a bear”

PersonificationPersonification – Assigning human characteristics to non- – Assigning human characteristics to non-human things.human things.

““The school was impressed by his talents and abilities”The school was impressed by his talents and abilities”

HyperboleHyperbole – Exaggeration used to express strong emotions – Exaggeration used to express strong emotions or make a point.or make a point.

““I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia – the use of sounds that echo – the use of sounds that echo their meaningtheir meaning

““Snap! Crackle! Pop!”Snap! Crackle! Pop!”

PunPun – play on words – play on words““have a nice trip, see you next fall”have a nice trip, see you next fall”

ParadoxParadox – seems contradictory or impossible, – seems contradictory or impossible, but contains a degree of truth or validitybut contains a degree of truth or validity

““that’s so cold it burns”, “I love you so much I hate you”that’s so cold it burns”, “I love you so much I hate you”

OxymoronOxymoron – two words together with opposite – two words together with opposite meaningsmeanings

““jumbo shrimp” or “honest thief”jumbo shrimp” or “honest thief”

Other poetic conventions to know:Other poetic conventions to know:SpeakerSpeaker – The voice that communicates with the reader. – The voice that communicates with the reader.

Rhyme schemeRhyme scheme – The pattern of rhyming in a particular – The pattern of rhyming in a particular poem.poem.

There once was a big brown cat     There once was a big brown cat      a a         That liked to eat a lot of mice.                  That liked to eat a lot of mice.         bb         He got all round and fat                            He got all round and fat                   aa         Because they tasted so nice.                     Because they tasted so nice.            bb

Internal RhymeInternal Rhyme – Rhyming that occurs within a line. – Rhyming that occurs within a line.Example: The cat was fatExample: The cat was fat

End RhymeEnd Rhyme – More common than internal rhyme, end – More common than internal rhyme, end rhyming occurs at the end of a line.rhyming occurs at the end of a line.

RepetitionRepetition – Repetition of anything within a poem, – Repetition of anything within a poem, examples: sounds, syllables, words, phrases, lines, examples: sounds, syllables, words, phrases, lines, stanzas, or metrical patterns.stanzas, or metrical patterns.

Sans eyes, sans teeth, sans taste, sans everything.Sans eyes, sans teeth, sans taste, sans everything.

ConsonanceConsonance – Repetition of a consonant – Repetition of a consonant sound.sound.

““blank think tank” blank think tank” or “or “the ladies lounged lazily”the ladies lounged lazily”

AssonanceAssonance – Repetition of a vowel sound. – Repetition of a vowel sound.

““ice might trip me twice” ice might trip me twice”

AlliterationAlliteration – Beginning several consecutive or – Beginning several consecutive or neighboring words with the same soundneighboring words with the same sound

““try trivial hobbies to entertain trolls”try trivial hobbies to entertain trolls”

AllusionAllusion – A reference to a mythological, literary, or – A reference to a mythological, literary, or historical person, place, or thing historical person, place, or thing

““chocolate is her Achilles’ Heel” (reference to chocolate is her Achilles’ Heel” (reference to The The IliadIliad))

Rhythm in PoetryRhythm in Poetry MeterMeter - - The rhythm of the poem as determined by the The rhythm of the poem as determined by the

stressed and unstressed syllables.stressed and unstressed syllables.

ScansionScansion - - identification of the meter of the identification of the meter of the poempoem

FootFoot - - Rhythmic unit within a lineRhythmic unit within a line

Iambic foot: Iambic foot: ˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ unstressed, stressedunstressed, stressed

Examples:Examples:Fort BendFort Bend

allureallureagreeagree

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter Iambic: Iambic: ˘ ¯˘ ¯ unstressed, stressedunstressed, stressed

Pentameter: each line of iambic Pentameter: each line of iambic pentameter contains 5 metric feet.pentameter contains 5 metric feet.

Example: Example:

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

ALL sonnets are written in iambic pentameter.ALL sonnets are written in iambic pentameter.

Italian/Petrarchan SonnetsItalian/Petrarchan Sonnets

OctaveOctave• Eight linesEight lines• Rhyme scheme: abbaabbaRhyme scheme: abbaabba• Presents the story, raises a question, states a Presents the story, raises a question, states a

propositionproposition• Volta (turn) between 8Volta (turn) between 8thth and 9 and 9thth lines lines

SestetSestet• six linessix lines• Rhyme scheme: cdecde Rhyme scheme: cdecde oror cdcdcd cdcdcd oror cdedce cdedce• Abstract comment, applies the proposition, solves Abstract comment, applies the proposition, solves

the problemthe problem

English/Shakespearean SonnetsEnglish/Shakespearean Sonnets

Written in iambic pentameterWritten in iambic pentameter Three quatrains Three quatrains

• abab cdcd efef abab cdcd efef Couplet Couplet

• gggg

HaikuHaiku

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry consisting of a tercet (3 line stanza) that consisting of a tercet (3 line stanza) that has 17 syllables.has 17 syllables.

They are simple and elegant, and they They are simple and elegant, and they usually capture a moment of every day usually capture a moment of every day life.life.

5 syllables ->5 syllables ->

7 syllables ->7 syllables ->

5 syllables - >5 syllables - >

Haiku usually have 5 Haiku usually have 5 syllables in the first syllables in the first line, 7 in the line, 7 in the middle, and then 5 middle, and then 5 in the last.in the last.

Smell the calm oceanSmell the calm ocean

While the fish swim out to seaWhile the fish swim out to sea

And the tide comes inAnd the tide comes in ---  Regina Hurley---  Regina Hurley

Haiku don’t usually Haiku don’t usually have titles. Random fact: the have titles. Random fact: the plural of haiku is haiku, NOT plural of haiku is haiku, NOT haikus.haikus.

"Haiku for Tiger""Haiku for Tiger"   

Cat sits at windowCat sits at window    Contemplating autumn sunContemplating autumn sun    But where is my fish?But where is my fish?

---  Lynda Williams---  Lynda Williams