Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 1 FORM TERMS TERM DEFINITION Acrostic Verse A poem that uses a pattern to deliver a second, separate message, usually with the first letter or first word of each line Ballad A song that tells a story and has a repeating chorus, or a poem that mimics that kind of song Concrete Poem A poem whose shape reflects the topic of the poem Haiku A 3-line Japanese poem, with 5, 7, and 5 syllables on each line. Usually, this poem places two images side by side, and expects the reader to draw some conclusion. Limerick A silly, 5 line poem with a specific rhythm and set rhyme scheme of A, A, B, B A Free Verse Blank Verse A poem with no rhyme scheme and no rhythm A poem with no rhyme scheme BUT with a specific rhythm (usually iambic pentameter) Ode Elegy A poem written to honour someone or some group A poem written to express feelings about the loss of someone or a group of people who have died Dramatic Monologue A poem written to mimic a play, except only one character is speaking to an audience who is silent
Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 2 Sonnet A 14-line poem whose name means little song and there are two main kinds of this poem Italian Sonnet English Sonnet 14-line poem in two parts / PART 1 = 8 lines = octave = ABBAABBA = Complains/ PART 2 = 6 lines = sestet = CDCDCD. A 14-line poem in 4 parts/ PARTS 1, 2 & 3 = quatrains = ABAB + CDCD + EFEF = 3 observations / PART 4 = couplet = GG = Conclusion SOUND TERMS Rhyme Repetition of the same ending sound Alliteration Repetition of the same beginning sound Assonance Repetition of the same vowel (a,e, i, o, u and sometimes y) sound Consonance Cacophony Repetition of the same consonant sound Harsh, unpleasant sounding words Euphony Soft, pleasant sounding words Onomatopoeia Words that are sounds Rhythm A pattern of meter or beat
Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 3 Rhyme Scheme A pattern of rhyme Iambic Pentameter A kind of pattern with ten syllables in a single line of poetry, with stress on every second syllable Eye Rhyme Words that look like they should rhyme, but they don t MEANING TERMS Personification Giving human qualities to non-humans Simile A comparison that uses like or as Metaphor Irony A comparison that says one thing IS another (and does not use like or as ) When the opposite of what is expected happens Allusion A reference to previous art, literature or history Hyperbole Exaggeration of the truth Understatement Understating the truth Oxymoron Two or more words that seem like opposites, but which create a new phrase that makes sense when used together
Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 4 Apostrophe When you talk to people who are dead, to people who are far away, or to animals as if you could be heard and understood Dramatic Irony When characters do not know all the facts that the audience knows Imagery Writing that appeals to the five senses Mood Atmosphere The emotion of a particular portion of a literary work, such as a line or two of a poem, or a single chapter of a novel The overall emotion of an entire literary work, even when the mood may vary from line to line or from chapter to chapter Point of View The perspective from which stories are told 1 st Person Point of View Stories told in the First person (I, Me, My) 2 nd Person Point of View Stories told in the Second person (You, Your) 3 rd Person Point of View, Limited Stories told in Third person limited (He, She or It) but the focus is limited to only one character 3 rd Person Point of View, Omniscient Stories told in Third person (He, She or It) but the focus is able to jump from character to character in an ALL KNOWING WAY (OMNI = ALL + SCIENT = KNOWING)
Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 5 Juxtaposition or Juxtapose Placing similar ideas or images side by side to show how they are different (or placing different ideas or images side by side to show how they are similar) A struggle or battle between opposing forces Internal When a character struggles to make a decision or deal with conflicting emotions (person versus self) External Interpersonal A character or a group of characters in opposition to another character or group of characters (person versus person) External Natural A character or group of characters in opposition to a natural force or entity, such as a hurricane or a bear (person versus nature) The terms are listed below: Acrostic Verse Ballad Blank Verse Concrete Poem Dramatic Monologue Elegy English Sonnet Free Verse Haiku Italian Sonnet Limerick Ode Sonnet Rhyme Alliteration Assonance Consonance Cacophony Euphony Onomatopoeia Rhythm Rhyme Scheme Iambic Pentameter Eye Rhyme Simile Personification Metaphor Irony Allusion Hyperbole Understatement Oxymoron Apostrophe Dramatic Irony Imagery Mood Atmosphere Point of View 1 st Person Point of View 2 nd Person Point of View 3 rd Person Point of View, Limited 3 rd Person Point of View, Omniscient Juxtaposition Internal External Interpersonal External Natural