Poetry Terms
Stanza A division of poetry named for the number of lines it contains. Couplet: two-line stanza Triplet: three-line stanza Quatrain: four-line stanza Quintet: five-line stanza Example:
Meter The patterned repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
Rhythm The regular or random occurrence of sound in poetry. Regular rhythm: meter Random rhythm: free verse
Rhyme The similarity of likeness of sound existing between two words. Example: Sat and cat are perfect rhymes because the vowel and final consonant sounds are exactly the same.
Symbol A person, a place, a thing, or an event used to represent something else. Example: A dove is a symbol of peace
Mood The feeling a text arouses in the reader.
Tone The overall feeling or effect created by a writer’s use of words.
Metaphor The use of words to state that two unlike things are similar BUT does not use “like” or “as”. Example: Her hair is silk. (Stating that hair is silk.)
Simile A comparison using “like” or “as” Example: His feet were as big as boats. (Comparing size of feet and boats.)
Personification Giving human qualities to ideas and things. Example: Her stomach growled.
Imagery Creating pictures for the senses. VERY descriptive. Example: Fear was his constant companion.
Onomatopoeia The use of words whose sounds suggests its meaning. Example: Spaghetti! Spaghetti! I love you a lot! You’re slishy, you’re sloshly, and you’re slurpy.
Assonance Repeated vowel sounds. There should be at least two repetitions in a row. Example: The cat sat on the mat and her hat.
Alliteration The repetition of the initial consonant. There should be at least two repetitions in a row. Example: Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers.