Lesson 2: Rhyme, Meter, Style, Patterns & Motifs

Twenty vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential poetic terms and structural elements discussed in the lesson.

Style (in poetry)

A poet’s unique way of using language, imagery, structure, and other elements to create a distinctive atmosphere.

Pattern (in poetry)

The structural organization—such as rhyme, meter, or stanza arrangement—that produces rhythm and order in a poem.

Rhyme Scheme

The ordered pattern of end-rhymes in a poem, commonly labeled with letters (e.g., AABB, ABAB).

AABB Rhyme Scheme

A rhyme pattern where the first two lines rhyme with each other and the next two lines share a different rhyme.

ABAB Rhyme Scheme

A rhyme pattern where the first and third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme.

Meter

The regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables within a line of poetry.

Stressed Syllable

A syllable given emphasis when spoken, contributing to a poem’s rhythmic pattern.

Unstressed Syllable

A syllable pronounced with less emphasis, paired with stressed syllables to create meter.

Repetition

The deliberate reuse of words, phrases, sounds, or lines to emphasize ideas or create musicality.

Stanza Structure

The arrangement of lines into groups (stanzas) of varying lengths to achieve visual and structural effects.

Monostich

A one-line stanza that may function as an entire poem.

Couplet

A two-line stanza in which the lines usually rhyme with each other.

Tercet

A three-line stanza, often following an ABA rhyme pattern.

Quatrain

A four-line stanza where the second and fourth lines typically rhyme.

Poetic Punctuation

The strategic placement of punctuation marks—such as dashes, ellipses, or commas—to control pacing and meaning.

Motif

A recurring theme, subject, or idea (e.g., love, nature, death) that reinforces a poem’s overall message.

Theme

The central idea or message explored by a literary work.

Point of View (POV)

The narrative perspective from which a poem or story is told, shaping how readers perceive events and values.

Plot (as structural element)

The sequence of events in a literary work that reveals conflicts, developments, and resolutions.

Characterization

The techniques a writer uses to develop characters and convey their traits, motivations, and values.