Line Break Refers to a place where a line of poetry ends, unguided by traditional punctuation conventions. Line breaks are important in poetry because they so often introduce ambiguity and affect meaning. Poets use line breaks to lead readers into multiple understandings and surprising ideas, as well as to control the flow at which they encounter ideas and images.
Stanza A stanza is a set of lines in a poem, set apart from other sets of lines by space. Each stanza comprises its own unit. The break/space between stanzas generally indicates a pause between thoughts, concepts or actions. In standard practice, most poems end a sentence at the end of stanza.
Meter In most poems, the lines are written according to patterns of rhythm. Poetic meter is the measure of a line of poetry. It is rhythm that can be measured in poems.
Alliteration The repetition of words with the same beginning sounds. Example: “Polly planted plenty of pretty pansies.”
Rhyme Words that have the same ending sounds. Example: “The tiny bird in the tree was singing songs just for me.”
End Rhyme Words that rhyme at the end of two or more lines of poetry. Example: “The girl walked down the street. She was looking for something to eat.”
Repetition Repeating words or phrases to create a rhythm or set a mood. Example: “The water dripped, dripped, dripped from the leaky faucet.”
Metaphor A figure of speech in which things are compared by stating that one thing is another. Example: “The clouds are cottonballs in the sky.”
Simile A figure of speech in which things are compared using the words “like” or “as”. Example: “The surface of the water looked as smooth as glass.”
Onomatopoeia Words that sound like the objects or actions they refer to. Example: “A pesky mosquito buzzed around my head.”
Personification A figure of speech in which objects are given human qualities. Example: “The sun played peek-a-boo with the clouds.”
Theme The theme is the main idea that the writer of the poem wishes to convey to his/her readers. It is the main idea around which the poem is focused.
Tone/Mood The overall feeling the poem creates. Mood, or tone, for example, can be playful, sad, lonely, angry or joyful.