Poetry and Shakespeare Terms

structure

Described in terms of stanza, form, and meter.

stanza

a group of lines in a poem considered a unit. Often separated by spaces

repetition

The use of a sound, word, phrase, clause, or sentence more than once.

rhythm

the arrangement, or pattern, of accented and unaccented syllables -- the "beat"

rhyme scheme

The regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem. Indicated by using different letters of the alphabet for each new rhyme.

rhyme

Repetition of sounds at the end of words

end rhyme

when the rhyming words come at the end of lines

internal rhyme

rhyming words appear in the same line in a poem

meter

the pattern of accented and unaccented syllables that form the basis of the poem's rhythm. Signifies the number of rhythmic beats, or "feet" in a line and the arrangement of accented and unaccented syllables in each foot (i.e. pentameter: a line with five beats, or feet)

eye rhyme

words whose spellings lead you to think that they rhyme

sonnet

a 14 line lyric poem; 3 quatrains and 1 couplet; usually rhyming

Shakespearean sonnet

consists of 3 quatrains and a couplet; a 14-lined poem, usually written in rhymed iambic pentameter; abab cdcd efef gg

quatrain

a stanza or poem made up of four lines with rhythm and rhyme

couplet

a pair of rhyming lines, usually of the same length and meter

iamb

one stressed and one unstressed syllable in a 5 foot line

blank verse

Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

free verse

Poetry that doesn't have consistent meter or rhyme. Poems that do not conform to established patterns of meter, rhyme, and stanza are called free verse or open form poetry.

apostrophe (imagery)

the direct address of a person or a personified thing; it often interrupts the discussion

alliteration

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more words

allusion

a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

metaphor

a figure of speech comparing one thing to another without using like or as; one thing is said to be another

extended metaphor

as in a regular metaphor, a subject is spoken or written of as though it were something else, though here several comparisons are made

hyperbole

the use of exaggeration

oxymoron

a paradox reduced to two words usually in an adjective-noun or adverb-adjective relationship (wise fool, act naturally)

paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true

pun

a play on words based on the similarity of sound between words with different meanings

consonance

the repetition in two or more words of the final consonants in stressed syllables

assonance

the repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonants in two or more stressed syllables

exposition

creates the tone, gives the setting, introduces some of the characters, and supplies facts necessary for the understanding of the play

rising action

the antagonist and the protagonist are balanced against each other

climax

always occurs in the third act of a Shakespearean drama. It is the turning point of the action where the action turns from good to bad.

complications

events which serve to further the climax or catastrophe

falling action

the continuous downfall of the protagonist(s). It prepares the audience for the next phase of the play.

denouement

the resolution of the play where the tragedy is explained and a solution to the problem is given for future reference. The denouement sometimes presents a moral.

tragedy

a drama which tells of an important and related series of events in the life of a person of significance. The events usually end in an unhappy catastrophe. The whole drama is treated with great seriousness and dignity.

soliloquy

a speech of a character in a play delivered while the speaker is alone on stage. The speech is designed to inform the audience or reader of what is passing through the character's mind or to give information concerning other participants in the action which is essential for the reader to know.

aside

words spoken by an actor to be heard by the audience only and not by the actors on the stage

dramatic irony

the words or acts of a character in a play may carry meaning unknown to him, but understood by the audience. Usually the character's own interests are involved in a way which cannot be understood.

protagonist

the chief character in the play. He may have heroic qualities. He is usually a person of high rank.

antagonist

the chief opponent of the protagonist; his rival

fate

Circumstances which cannot be controlled by humans.

tragic flaw

A certain quality in a character's personality (usually in the protagonist's personality) which causes his own downfall and ends in tragedy.

free will

the ability of a character in a play to make his own decisions and shape his own future. Fate and free will are usually opposing each other in a Shakespearean drama.

pathos

the suffering of a character and the feeling the audience has for the characters (pity)

humorous relief

Elements of humor in the play that serve to relieve tension in the audience.

chorus

the actor who sets the tone of the play, introduces the characters, and/or explain the plot of the play. The chorus will appear at the beginning of the play and before acts. He may also appear at the end of the play to provide closure for the audience.

puns

humorous play on words indicating different meanings. A popular means of providing humor.