Poetry Terms and Structures: Rhyme, Meter, and Literary Devices

What is alliteration?

The repetition of the first sound of words.

What is consonance?

The repetition of consonant sounds in words, not limited to the beginning.

What is assonance?

The repetition of vowel sounds in words.

What defines true rhyme?

The sounds of two words match exactly in the vowel and consonant sounds.

What is slant rhyme?

Consonance on the final consonant, but with a variance in the vowel sound.

What is a rhyme scheme?

The pattern of rhymes at the end of lines in a poem, indicated by letters.

What is meter in poetry?

The rhythm of a piece of poetry, determined by the number and order of stressed and unstressed syllables.

What is iambic pentameter?

A metrical pattern consisting of five iambs per line.

What is free verse?

Poetry that does not have a regular rhyme or meter.

What is an enjambed line?

A line in poetry where the thought continues onto the next line without a pause.

What is juxtaposition in poetry?

Placing two different things side-by-side for contrasting effect.

What is a simile?

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.'

What is a metaphor?

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.'

What is a controlling metaphor?

An extended metaphor that is sustained throughout an entire poem.

What is a sonnet?

A poem consisting of 14 lines, typically with a specific rhyme scheme and meter.

Who is the speaker in a poem?

The character who voices the attitude in the poem, distinct from the poet.

What does 'stanza' mean in poetry?

A term derived from Italian meaning 'room,' referring to a grouped set of lines in a poem.