1. Poetry Terms

2. Prose
All forms of writing that are not in verse form. The term may be used to describe very different forms of writing – short stories as well as essays
Ex. “She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails.”

3. Poetry
A type of literature in which words are carefully chosen and arranged to create certain effects. Poets use a variety of sound devices, imagery, and figurative language to express emotions and ideas.
Ex.: It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea
That a maiden lived there whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee

4. Stanza
A group of two or more lines that form a unit in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose writing.
Ex.: So if, my dear, there sometimes seems to be
Old bridges breaking between you and me.

5. Refrain One or more lines repeated in each stanza of a poem.
Ex.: “In this kingdom by the sea” in “Annabel Lee”

6. True/Exact Rhyme
Rhyme in which the stressed vowels and all following consonants and vowel sounds are identical, but the consonants preceding the rhyming vowels are different.
Ex.: chain, brain;
soul, pole.

7. Types of Rhyme
External/end rhyme – rhyming words come at the ends of lines; most common type of rhyme
Ex.: Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall
Confident that we have built our wall.
Internal rhyme – rhyme that occurs within a line of poetry
Ex.: Can ever dissever my soul from the soul

8. Rhythm
A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Poets use rhythm to bring out the musical quality of language, to emphasize ideas, and to create moods.
“Thĕn from thĕ gladdĕned multĭtude wĕnt up ă joyoŭs yell.”

9. Repetition
A technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or unity. Repetition often helps to reinforce meaning and create an appealing rhythm.
Ex.: Cannon to the right of them
Cannon to the left of them
Cannon in front of them

10. Meter the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Ex.: The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.

11. Figurative Language
When words are used in an imaginative way to express ideas that are not literally true.
Ex.:
Metaphor – “He’s a bear in the morning.”
Simile – “She is as cold as ice.”
Idiom – “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Personification – “The book spoke to me.”

12. Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words
Alliteration gives emphasis to certain words (like repetition)
Ex.: “Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed,”

13. Personification
The giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea
Ex.: The wind whispered through the trees.

14. Metaphor A figure of speech that compares seemingly unlike things.
Ex.: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.

15. Imagery
Consists of words and phrases that appeal to a reader’s five senses.
Ex.: A boy on a lake lifts his oars

16. Mood The feeling created in the reader by a literary work.
Ex.: sadness
And so, all the night tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride
In her sepulcher by the sea

17. Tone The writer’s attitude toward his/her audience and/or subject
Ex.: impending doom
“There was death at every window
And hell at one dark window.”

18. Free Verse Poetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm. Ex.:
Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.
A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,
And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,
I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,

19. Interpretive Meaning
An explanation of the theme of a poem using your own words.
Ex.: The Highwayman is both a hero and a criminal. Therefore, the reader can admire him, although he is a thief.

20. Traditional & Irregular
Traditional poetry uses a regular pattern of rhyme
Ex.: Tell me tales of a lilied pool
Asleep beneath the sun
Tell me of woodlands deep and cool,
When chuckling satyrs run
Irregular poetry is written in free verse
Ex.: old age sticks
up Keep
Off
signs

21. Epic & Lyric
Epic Poem – A long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or a group of people.
Ex. “The Highwayman”
Lyric Poem – Poem that presents the personal thoughts and feelings of a single speaker.
Ex. “Annabel Lee”

22. Ballad poetry
A type of narrative poem that tells a story and was originally meant to be sung or recited.
Ex. “The Highwayman”
And the highwayman came riding-
riding-riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

23. Narrative poetry
Poetry that tells a story. Contains characters, a setting and a plot.
Ex. “Casey at the Bat”
And when the dust had lifted, and they saw what had occurred,
There was Blakey safe at second, and Flynn a-huggin’ third.

24. Graphical
A form of visual poetry where the type-face is laid out to present a pictorial representation of the subject of the poem.