Poetry Terms
Stanza Sections of a poem. Not “paragraphs” When we talk about parts of poems in this unit, we will do so in terms of stanzas and line numbers
Persona Speaker in a poem Not necessarily the author—don’t assume!
Theme The message the author presents through the work. What is the author’s commentary on the issue? Sometimes referred to as the “moral”
Diction Refers to two aspects of the writing: Word choice—Vocabulary Also, keep in mind connotation and denotation Denotation= dictionary definition of words Connotation= associations we have with words Word order—Syntax
Imagery Language that appeals to the five senses: Sight Smell Sound Taste Touch In a Station of the Metro -Ezra Pound The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.
Repetition Return to a word, phrase, image, etc. for effect. What could this effect be? What function does repetition serve in writing?
Alliteration Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers.
Onomatopoeia When a word’s sound indicates its meaning. Bang! Pow!
Rhyme Repetition of similar sounds in words. End Rhyme—Repetition of final sounds at the end of lines of poetry. Little Bo Peep Has lost her sheep Internal Rhyme—Rhyming words within a line of poetry Approximate Rhyme—an imperfect rhyme. Usually occurs in pattern where most rhymes are perfect, exact rhymes. Ex: When and send; sun and plum
Consonance and Assonance Consonance—Repetition of the same consonant sounds two or more times in short succession. This repetition does not have to be at the beginning of a line. (Alliteration is a type of consonance) Pitter patter of little feet. Assonance—Repetition of the same vowel sounds two or more times in short succession. Do you like blue?
Enjambment Running on of the thought from one line, couplet, or stanza to the next without a syntactical break In other words, using a line break where you wouldn’t naturally pause From Keats’ Endymion: A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and asleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. (ll .1-5)
Types of Poetry Based on Rhyme Free Verse—Poetry that follows no particular rhyme scheme or meter (rhythm determined by stress and syllables) Blank Verse—Poetry that has a regular rhythm (Iambic Pentameter…Remember?) but no regular rhyme scheme
Figurative Language To be literal means that you mean exactly what you say/write Figurative means that what is said or written is not exactly what is meant You must read between the lines!
Simile A comparison between two unlike things using like, as, or another comparison word. Playing chess with Ashley is like trying to outsmart a computer. “He makes more trips to the mound than a mom on mother’s day” –Mike Shannon
Metaphor A comparison between two unlike things in which one thing becomes another. Brian was a wall, bouncing every ball that came toward him over the net.
Personification Giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. The window winked at me.
Symbolism Something that stands for something else. Usually in literature, writers will use a concrete object to represent an abstract idea.
Tone The author’s attitude or feelings about the persona, audience, or subject matter. Use diction, imagery, persona, etc. to communicate tone. More than just what the message is Tone is described in feeling words