FORM a Poem S Structure the Way the Words Are Arranged on the Page s1

POETRY TERMS

POETRY While difficult to adequately define, poetry is a highly charged form of literature in which every word is packed with meaning. It has a musical quality that may be achieved through meter, rhyme, repetition, and sound devices.

POETIC FORM

FORM A poem’s structure – the way the words are arranged on the page

LINE Each individual line of a poem; the length of lines, where they break, and how they are punctuated all contribute to a poem’s rhythm and meaning.

STANZA A grouping of consecutive lines in a poem that form a single unit; comparable to a paragraph in prose

ENJAMBMENT The continuation of a thought/idea in poetry that extends beyond the end of one line of poetry

TYPES OF POETRY There are other main types, but these are the ones we will study!

FREE VERSE A form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.

VILLANELLE A type of poem that consists of five stances of three lines each (tercets) followed by a quatrain (a four line stanza). The entire poem is based on two rhyme sounds.

SHAKESPEAREAN A fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter; used to explore such deeply felt issues as the SONNET fleeting nature of love and the aching questions of mortality. Typically presents a problem/issue and then offers a “solution.” It generally follows the rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

IAMBIC A line of poetry that consists of five pairs of stressed and unstressed syllables PENTAMETER Ex. But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

VOLTA The switch from problem to resolution. (SHIFT/TURN)

QUATRAIN A series/unit of four rhymed lines.

COUPLET A series of two rhymed lines with a pattern of AA, meaning that the ends of the two lines rhyme with each other.

PETRARCHAN A form of sonnet made popular by Petrarch with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBACDCDCD (ITALIAN) SONNET

CONCRETE POEM Also known as a shape poem, these poems are printed on the page so that they form a recognizable shape related to the subject. It is intended to be perceived as a visual whole.

SPOKEN WORD Poetry intended for onstage performance, rather than exclusively designed for the page. While often associated with hip-hop culture, it also has strong ties to storytelling, modern poetry, post-modern performance, and monologue theatre, as well as jazz, blues, and folk music. LITERARY DEVICES You should also be able to identify examples of each word.

SYMBOL A person, place, object, or activity that functions both as itself and as something more than itself. Ex. Flag = piece of cloth that represents a country and the ideals the country represents (American flag = patriotism/freedom); White dove = a bird that represents peace

SIMILE Makes a comparison between two unlike things, using words such as like or as Ex. My love is as boundless as the sea. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds.

METAPHOR A comparison between two unlike things WITHOUT using words such as like or as. A metaphor says that one thing IS another thing. Ex. It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.

ALLUSION An indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work.

PERSONIFICATION The giving of human qualities to an inhuman object, animal, or idea. Ex. The house’s walls breathed with every gust of wind.

IMAGERY Vivid descriptions that recreate sensory experiences for readers. This is accomplished through the use of sensory language (appeals to sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell).

PARADOX A statement whose two parts seem contradictory (opposite) yet make sense with more thought and hold significance

IRONY A contradictory statement or situation that reveals a reality different from what appears to be true.

PUN Word play in which words with totally different meanings have similar or identical sounds. Ex. Like a firefly in the rain, I’m de-lighted.

HYPERBOLE An outrageous exaggeration used for effect. Ex. He weights a ton.

JUXTAPOSITION Places two images or objects side by side for the purpose of comparing and contrasting

DICTION Strong and intentional word choice that impacts the overall meaning of the poem or the tone

DENOTATION The dictionary definition of a word.

CONNOTATION The feelings/emotions associated with a word.

TONE The author’s attitude toward the subject matter which is communicated by the words the author chooses.

MOOD The feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage. SOUND DEVICES

RHYME The occurrence of similar or identical sounds at the end of two or more words. Ex. suite, heat, and complete

INTERNAL RHYME Rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry Ex. It dropped so low – in my Regard - / I heard it hit the Ground

SLANT RHYME Approximate rhyme; occurs when authors attempt to rhyme words that simply do not rhyme exactly Ex. What immortal hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

END RHYME Rhyme that occurs at the ends of lines of poetry Ex. And be one traveler, long I stood / And looked down one as far as I could.

RHYME SCHEME A pattern of end rhymes in a poem. A rhyme scheme is noted by assigning a letter of the alphabet, beginning with a, to each line. Lines that rhyme are given the same letter.

Ex. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, a And sorry I could not travel both b And be one traveler, long I stood a And looked down one as far as I could a To where it bent in the undergrowth b

Repetition/Sound Words

REPETITION The purposeful re-use of words and phrases for effect (emphasis and unity).

ALLITERATION Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words Ex. Which circle slowly with a silken swish

ASSONANCE The repetition of internal vowel sounds Ex: the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

ANAPHORA The same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences that are in sequence. Ex.. It was the best of times, It was the worst of times, It was the age of wisdom, It was the age of foolishness,

ONOMATOPOEIA Words that sound like their meaning Ex. swoosh, zip, click, zoom, pop, crackle