Introduction to Poetry: Elements and Forms

Poetry

Artistic expression through structured language and form.

Prose

Everyday language arranged in paragraphs with strict punctuation.

Speaker

Narrator or voice in the poem.

Theme

Main message or lesson conveyed in the poem.

Diction

Choice of words used in the poem.

Literal Language

Language that means exactly what it says.

Figurative Language

Language that implies deeper meanings beyond literal.

Tone

Author's attitude toward the audience or topic.

Mood

Emotional atmosphere evoked in the reader.

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within words.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds with different vowels.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate natural sounds.

Rhyme

Repetition of syllables, typically at line ends.

Rhyme Scheme

Pattern of rhymes in a stanza, labeled alphabetically.

Simile

Comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

Direct comparison without 'like' or 'as'.

Allusion

Reference to a historical or literary figure.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for emphasis.

Imagery

Descriptive language appealing to the senses.

Personification

Giving human traits to nonhuman entities.

Stanza

Group of lines in a poem, separated by space.

Rhythm

Pattern of stresses in a line of verse.

Meter

Premeasured patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Repetition

Use of words or phrases multiple times for emphasis.

Sonnet

14-line poem in iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme.

Epic

Lengthy narrative poem celebrating heroic adventures.

Ode

Poem praising a person, place, or thing.

Lyric

Poem expressing personal and emotional feelings.

Free Verse

Poetry without rhyme or regular meter.

Narrative

Poem that tells a story with plot and characters.