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.