AP Lit Poetry Unit
form
physical structure of the poem:
line length
rhythm + meter
system of rhymes + repetition
developed over time in different cultures
stanza structure
arrangement of lines into groups, separated by an empty line
rhythm and meter
meter — rhythm and sound pattern of a line of poetry, pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line
line structure
lineation — when a line of poetry stops and a new line begins
*poets choose to place certain words in certain places for a reason
Sound Effects
the way the poem sounds affects the readers’ interpretation of mood, tone, fluency, possibly even meaning of poem
figurative language
vivid images
stanza structure (SS)
SS 2 lines
couplet
SS 3 lines
tercet
SS 4 Lines
Quatrain
SS 5 Lines
Cinquain
SS 6 Lines
Sestet7
SS 7 Lines
SeptetS
S 8 lines
octave
Stanzas
have certain rhyme scheme
groups ideas/images together, indicate change in tone, idea, focus, pause for thought / create silence which affects the meaning
Line Structure (LS)
poets are also specific in how they format their lines
End-Stop (LS)
break at the end of a line, denoted by a comma, period, semicolon, or other punctuation mark
brief pause created between lines
enjabment
continuation of sentence or clause over a line-break
thought runs on from one line to the next
caesura
strong pause within a line
can emphasize certain words
metaphor
comparison between two unlikely things
simile
comparison between two things using the words “like” or “as”
personification
giving human qualities to non-human things
hyperbole
exaggerated statement used to emphasize an idea or make a point
euphemism
softer, less offensive word or phrase used as a substitute for one considered too harsh when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
synecdoche
a part is used to represent the whole
pun
play on words; can be on different meanings of the same word or on the similar sense or sound of different words
oxymoron
when incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side
anaphora
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
allusion
reference to well-known person, story, idea (often Biblical or mythological), left to the reader to make the connection