1. Poetry Terms

2. Poetry-
a literary genre characterized by meter, rhyme, alliteration, literary elements, or a combination of these things.

3. Alliteration-
two or more consecutive words with the same initial sound
Example: Sarah saw several cats walking down the street.
Example: Funny photos filled the pages.

4. Allusion-
When a reference is made about someone/something not in the story.

5. Assonance- repeating vowel sounds; often creates a soothing effect
Example: neck, met

6. Ballad- a narrative poem consisting of quatrains (stanza of 4 lines)
Common elements include:
1. It often has an abrupt beginning
2. Story is told through dialogue and action
3. It has simple language
4. The theme is often tragic
5. Repeating lines and phrases

7. Blank Verse-
a poem that does not rhyme

8. Companion Poems-
Two poems that build upon the same topic/theme

9. Consonance- repeating consonant sounds
Example: While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as if someone gently rapping, rapping on my chamber door.

10. Couplet-
two consecutive lines that rhyme.

11. Diction-
word choice

12. Epic Poem-
a type of narrative poem that tells the story of a hero.

13. Extended Metaphor-
a metaphor that is extended throughout a poem

14. Free Verse-
a poem with no rhythmic meter or rhyme scheme

15. Hyperbole- an exaggeration or overstatement
Example: I slept a thousand hours last night.

16. Imagery-
language that evokes one of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching.

17. Lyric Poem-
a short poem that expresses emotion.

18. Metaphor-
comparison NOT using “like” or “as”; created with “to be” verbs (is, are, was, were)
Example: These biscuits are rocks.

19. Mood-
the emotional atmosphere created by the author

20. Narrative Poem-
a long poem that tells a story.

21. Onomatopoeia-
when words imitate sounds
Example: “meow” “bing”

22. Personification-
giving human characteristics to inanimate objects (not human)
Example: The trees danced in the breeze

23. Repetition-
repeating lines or phrases

24. Rhyme Scheme- the rhyming pattern of a poem indicated with letters
Example: abab

25. Simile- comparison using “like” or “as”
Example: These biscuits are as hard as rocks

26. Sonnet-
a 14-lined lyric poem that rhymes

27. Symbolism- when an object represents a larger idea or thought.
Example: rain representing sadness

28. Theme- the general idea or insight about life that a writer
wishes to express.

29. Tone- the author’s attitude towards what he/she is writing.
-The tone might be formal or informal, playful, ironic, optimistic, pessimistic, etc.