Poetic Terms Part II

Analogy

A comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Archaic Language

Language that is old-fashioned and no longer in everyday use.

Archetype

A typical example of a person or thing, often used as a model or pattern.

Ars Poetica

A poem that explains the art of poetry or the role of a poet.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

Atmosphere

The mood or feeling evoked by a literary work.

Cadence

The rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words.

Carpe Diem

A Latin phrase meaning 'seize the day,' often encouraging making the most of the present.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity.

Ekphrastic Poetry

Poetry that vividly describes a work of art.

End-Stopped Line

A poetic line that concludes with punctuation.

English Sonnet

A sonnet form consisting of three quatrains followed by a rhymed couplet.

Epigraph

A quotation or motto placed at the beginning of a literary work.

Eulogy

A speech or piece of writing that praises someone, typically after their death.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is extended over several lines or throughout a piece.

Ghazal

A poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain.

Iambic Pentameter

A rhythm pattern in poetry that consists of five iambs per line.

Internal Rhyme

A rhyme occurring within a single line of poetry.

Italian Sonnet

A sonnet form with an octave and a sestet.

Metaphysical Conceit

An extended metaphor that makes a far-fetched comparison between two seemingly unrelated things.

Minimalism

A literary style that uses sparse and simple language.

Overstatement

An exaggerated claim or statement.

Pastoral

A work of literature that idealizes rural life and nature.

Prose Poem

A form of poetry that is written in prose rather than verse.

Refrain

A repeated part of a poem or song, typically at the end of a stanza.

Eye Rhyme

Words that look similar in spelling but do not rhyme phonetically.

Near Rhyme

Words that sound similar but do not exactly rhyme.

Slant Rhyme

A type of rhyme that is close but not exact, often involving a vowel or consonant match.

End Rhyme

Rhyme that occurs at the end of lines of poetry.

Petrarchan Sonnet

A type of sonnet named after Petrarch, typically composed of an octave and a sestet.

Run-On Line

A line that flows into the next without a pause or punctuation.

Shift

A change in tone, mood, or direction in a literary work.

Sight Rhyme

A rhyme based on spelling rather than sound.

Sound

The auditory quality or characteristics of spoken or written language.

Speaker

The voice or persona that narrates or speaks in a poem.

Sprung Rhythm

A type of meter in poetry that varies the number of unstressed syllables before each stressed syllable.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Verse

A single line of poetry or a particular form of poetry.