Encyclopedic Guide to Poetic Structure and Techniques

Analogy to Prose Structure: In the study of poetic anatomy, the stanza is defined as the primary structural unit. Its function is directly analogous to that of paragraphs in prose writing. Just as paragraphs organize ideas and narrative shifts in a story or essay, stanzas serve to group lines within a poem, typically unified by a common rhyme scheme, meter, or thematic focus.

Definition of Rhyme: Rhyme refers to the phonetic correspondence between the terminal sounds of words, most frequently occurring at the end of poetic lines.
The $AABB$ Rhyme Scheme: This specific pattern consists of two consecutive rhyming couplets. In this structure, the first line rhymes with the second ( $A$ ), and the third line rhymes with the fourth ( $B$ ), creating a sense of immediate phonic resolution.
The $ABAB$ Rhyme Scheme: This is characterized as an alternate rhyme scheme or cross-rhyme. In this configuration, the first and third lines rhyme with one another, while the second and fourth lines rhyme with each other, producing an interlocking auditory effect.

Enjambment: Enjambment is a stylistic device where a grammatical "sentence carries to [the] next line" without the use of terminal punctuation. Often referred to as a 'run-on line,' this technique forces the reader to continue the thought across the line break without a pause, which can be used to build tension, mimic the flow of natural speech, or create a sense of ongoing movement.
Caesura: A caesura (plural: caesurae) represents a distinct rhythmic "pause in [the] middle of [a] line" of poetry. This internal break serves to interrupt the meter and can be used for dramatic effect or to signify a shift in thought. In written verse, it is often demarcated by punctuation; the provided material notes the use of an ellipsis ( $…$ ) to signify this specific type of pause within the lineation.