Poetry Terms Nadia Hudson
The repetition of words. Alliteration The repetition of words.
Two lines of a verse that form a unit alone or as part of a poem. Couplet Two lines of a verse that form a unit alone or as part of a poem.
Hyperbole An exaggeration.
Describing something so the reader can picture it in their head. Imagery Describing something so the reader can picture it in their head.
Comparing two or more things without using the words “like” or “as”. Metaphor Comparing two or more things without using the words “like” or “as”.
The pattern of rhyming lines in a poem or in a verse of a poem. Rhyme Scheme The pattern of rhyming lines in a poem or in a verse of a poem.
Internal Rhyme A rhyme in which one of the rhyming words is within the line if poetry and the other is at the end of the same line or within the next line.
The use of rhyme at the ends of poetry. End Rhyme The use of rhyme at the ends of poetry.
The imitation of sound in words. Onomatopoeia The imitation of sound in words.
Giving non-living things human characteristics. Personification Giving non-living things human characteristics.
An act of doing something again. Repetition An act of doing something again.
Comparing two or more things using the words “like” or “as”. Simile Comparing two or more things using the words “like” or “as”.
Stanza The division of a poem.
Pun A play on words.
A poetic stanza of 3 lines. Triplet A poetic stanza of 3 lines.
Verse A section of a poem consisting a number of lines arranged together to form a single unit.
Assonance The similarity of 2 or more vowel sounds or the repetition of 2 or more consonant sounds.
A short poem with 3 unrhymed lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Haiku A short poem with 3 unrhymed lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.
Ballad Telling a story in a number of short regular stanzas, often with a refrain.
Ode A lyric poem, usually expressing exalted emotion in a complex scheme of rhyme and meter.
Epic A long narrative poem.
A poem written in elegiac couplets or stanzas. Elegy A poem written in elegiac couplets or stanzas.
Quatrain A verse of poetry consisting of 4 lines, especially one with lines that rhyme alternately.
Allusion