Lit poetry terms

Poetry that does not follow a regular meter or rhyme scheme.

Free Verse

Stanza

A group of lines forming a unit within a poem.

Rhyme

The repetition of matching sounds, typically at the ends of words.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or grammatical unit beyond a poetic line break without a major pause.

Cadence

The rhythmic flow or movement of language in a poem.

Speaker/Persona

The voice or identity speaking in a poem, which is not necessarily the author.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates or suggests the sound it represents.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining two apparently contradictory terms.

Tonal Shift

A change in the speaker's attitude toward the subject of a poem.

Personification

Giving human characteristics or qualities to nonhuman things.

Caesura

A pause within a line of poetry.

Couplet

Two successive lines of poetry forming a unit, often linked by rhyme or meaning.

Volta

A significant turning point in a poem's thought, argument, tone, or perspective.

Quatrain

A four-line stanza or unit of poetry.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses.

Parallel Structure

The repetition of similar grammatical structures in related phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Symbolism

The use of objects, characters, actions, or images to represent ideas or meanings beyond their literal significance.