Poetic Terms Poetic Terms

A small selectionA small selection

AlliterationAlliteration—repetition of initial consonant —repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring sounds in neighboring words.words.

i.e.: i.e.: wwet, et, wwild, and ild, and wwoolyooly

AllusionAllusion - a reference, implicit or explicit to - a reference, implicit or explicit to something in literature or historysomething in literature or history

AnaphoraAnaphora – repetition of opening word or phrase – repetition of opening word or phrase in a series of linesin a series of lines

ApostropheApostrophe – someone who is dead/absent/non- – someone who is dead/absent/non-human is addressed as if alive, present, and capable human is addressed as if alive, present, and capable of replyof reply

AssonanceAssonance—repetition of vowel sounds without —repetition of vowel sounds without the repetition of the repetition of consonants . i.e.: “… mconsonants . i.e.: “… myy words words lliike ske siilent raindrops fell...” lent raindrops fell...”

Blank VerseBlank Verse—an unrhymed form of poetry which —an unrhymed form of poetry which normally consists of ten syllables in which every normally consists of ten syllables in which every other syllable is stressed. (iambic pentameter) other syllable is stressed. (iambic pentameter)

CantoCanto—division of a long poem.—division of a long poem.

CaesuraCaesura—pause or sudden break in a line of —pause or sudden break in a line of poetry.poetry.

ConsonanceConsonance—repetition of consonant sounds —repetition of consonant sounds especially in poetry.especially in poetry.i.e.: girli.e.: girlss with with ssmooth mooth sskin kin ssmilemile

Couplet Couplet - - two consecutivetwo consecutive lines of poetry that lines of poetry that rhyme. A couplet that presents a complete rhyme. A couplet that presents a complete thought is called a closed couplet. Shakespeare thought is called a closed couplet. Shakespeare used closed couplets to end his sonnets.used closed couplets to end his sonnets.

EuphonyEuphony – a smooth, pleasant-sounding choice – a smooth, pleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of soundsand arrangement of sounds

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language – language that cannot be – language that cannot be taken literally or only literallytaken literally or only literally

FootFoot – basic unit in measurement of metrical – basic unit in measurement of metrical verseverse

Free VerseFree Verse—poetry that does not have a regular —poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme meter or rhyme scheme.scheme.

Heroic CoupletHeroic Couplet—2 successive rhyming lines —2 successive rhyming lines which contain complete thoughts which contain complete thoughts

LyricLyric—a short verse intended to express emotions —a short verse intended to express emotions of the author; most often lyrics are set to music.of the author; most often lyrics are set to music.

MeterMeter—repetition of stressed an unstressed —repetition of stressed an unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.syllables in a line of poetry.

OdeOde—lyric poem written to someone or something —lyric poem written to someone or something > serious and elevated tone.> serious and elevated tone.

ParadoxParadox—statement which at first seems —statement which at first seems contradictory but which contradictory but which turns out to have a turns out to have a profound meaning.profound meaning.

i.e. : Bob Dylan’s lyric: “I was so much i.e. : Bob Dylan’s lyric: “I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.”older then; I’m younger than that now.”

PsalmPsalm—a sacred or religious song or lyric. —a sacred or religious song or lyric.

QuatrainQuatrain – a four line stanza or poem, or a group – a four line stanza or poem, or a group of four lines unified by a rhyme scheme.of four lines unified by a rhyme scheme.

RefrainRefrain—repetition of a line or a phrase of a poem at —repetition of a line or a phrase of a poem at regular regular intervals, especially at the end of each intervals, especially at the end of each stanza. Refrain of a stanza. Refrain of a song=chorus.song=chorus.

RepetitionRepetition—repeating of a word or a phrase within a —repeating of a word or a phrase within a poem or a prose to create a sense of rhyme. poem or a prose to create a sense of rhyme.

RhymeRhyme—similarity or likeness of sound existing between —similarity or likeness of sound existing between two words.two words.

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme – A rhyme scheme is the pattern of – A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming lines in a poem or in lyrics for music. It is rhyming lines in a poem or in lyrics for music. It is usually referred to by using letters to indicate which usually referred to by using letters to indicate which lines rhyme. A change from one rhyme scheme to lines rhyme. A change from one rhyme scheme to another often signifies a change in subject matteranother often signifies a change in subject matter

Rhymed VerseRhymed Verse—verse with end rhyme; it usually has a —verse with end rhyme; it usually has a regular meter.regular meter.

SonnetSonnet – 14 line poem, usually in iambic pentameter – 14 line poem, usually in iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme following either Italian or Englishwith a rhyme scheme following either Italian or English

StanzaStanza—the division of poetry named for the # of lines —the division of poetry named for the # of lines it contains.it contains.

Couplet: 2 line stanzaCouplet: 2 line stanza Triplet: 3 line stanzaTriplet: 3 line stanza Quatrain: 4 line stanzaQuatrain: 4 line stanza Quintet: 5 line stanzaQuintet: 5 line stanza Sestet, Septet, OctaveSestet, Septet, Octave

All others are called 9, 10, 11 line stanzas, etc.All others are called 9, 10, 11 line stanzas, etc.

ToneTone – the speaker’s attitude toward the subject; – the speaker’s attitude toward the subject; emotional coloringemotional coloring

VerseVerse—Metrical language; the opposite of prose—Metrical language; the opposite of prose(Blank, Free, or Rhymed)(Blank, Free, or Rhymed)

SonnetsSonnets

A fourteen line lyric poem usually A fourteen line lyric poem usually written in iambic pentameter, that has written in iambic pentameter, that has one of several rhyme schemes.one of several rhyme schemes.

Three types of sonnets:Three types of sonnets:1.1. Petrarchan Sonnet (Italian Sonnet)Petrarchan Sonnet (Italian Sonnet)2.2. Shakespeaean Sonnet or English Shakespeaean Sonnet or English

SonnetSonnet3.3. Spensarian SonnetSpensarian Sonnet

Petrarchan SonnetPetrarchan Sonnet Named after 14Named after 14thth century Italian poet Francis century Italian poet Francis

Pretrarch.Pretrarch. Divided into two parts.Divided into two parts. Octave (octet) – the first eight lines of the Octave (octet) – the first eight lines of the

poem. They usually represent a problem, pose poem. They usually represent a problem, pose a question, on express an idea.a question, on express an idea.

Rhyme scheme of the octave is abbaabba.Rhyme scheme of the octave is abbaabba. Sestet (turn) – the last six lines of the poem. Sestet (turn) – the last six lines of the poem.

They usually resolve the problem, answer the They usually resolve the problem, answer the question, or drive home the point.question, or drive home the point.

Rhyme scheme of the sestet is cdcdcd or Rhyme scheme of the sestet is cdcdcd or cdecde.cdecde.

Shakespearean Sonnet or English Shakespearean Sonnet or English SonnetSonnet

Has three four-line units (quatrains) usually Has three four-line units (quatrains) usually followed by a concluding two-line unit (couplet).followed by a concluding two-line unit (couplet).

The three quatrains often express related ideas The three quatrains often express related ideas or examples.or examples.

The couplet sums up the poets conclusion or The couplet sums up the poets conclusion or message.message.

The rhyme scheme is most usually abab cdcd The rhyme scheme is most usually abab cdcd efef gg.efef gg.

Spensarian SonnetSpensarian Sonnet

Developed by Edmund SpenserDeveloped by Edmund Spenser Divided into three quatrains and a Divided into three quatrains and a

coupletcouplet The three quatrains develop three distinct The three quatrains develop three distinct

but closely related ideas, with a different but closely related ideas, with a different idea (or commentary) in the couplet.idea (or commentary) in the couplet.

The rhyme scheme links the quatrains The rhyme scheme links the quatrains abab bcbc cdcd eeabab bcbc cdcd ee