Poetry Literary Terms
Rhyme Occurs when the last vowel and consonant sounds of two words are identical. gave….save hit…sit walk….talk
End Rhyme- Occurs at the end of a line of poetry. ran Where Alph, the sacred river, ran man. Through caverns measureless to man. Internal Rhyme- Occurs within a line of poetry. dreary weary. Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary. Examples of Rhymes
Rhyme Scheme The pattern established by the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza or poem, generally described by using letters of the alphabet. Examples: I love you, I do. (A) When the rains start to fall, (B) I’ll never be blue (A) With you standing tall. (B) The boy ate some pie (C) He started to fly. (C)
Lines of poetry grouped according to a specific plan. Sometimes called verses. Stanza
Refrain A word, phrase, line, or group of lines that repeats in a poem. Sometimes called a chorus.
The arrangement of “beats” (syllables) in a line of poetry. Rhythm
Couplet Two successive lines of poetry, usually of equal length and similar meter, with end-words that rhyme. Example: – And it grew both day and night, – Till it bore an apple bright.
A stanza of four lines of verse usually with a rhyme scheme of ABAB. Most common form of stanza in English. Example: Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying. Quatrain
Meter The measurement unit for rhythm Since the 1400's meter has tended to be measured by accented and unaccented syllables.
A form of poetry that does not contain repeated rhythms or regular rhyme. Free Verse
Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds. Example: She sells seashells by the sea shore.
The repetition of vowel sounds in stressed syllables that end with different consonant sounds. A type of vowel rhyme Example: Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage, against the dying of the light. Assonance
Consonance The repetition of a consonant sound preceded by a different vowel sound. Found in Dr. Seuss books Example: Clocks on fox tick. Clocks on Knox tock. Six sick bricks tick. Six sick chicks tock.
The use of words or phrases that sound like the things to which they refer. Example: BAM, POW, DRIP, SIZZLE, DING Onomatopoeia
Repetition The use, again, of a sound, word, phrase, sentence, or other element.
a reference to a person, object, event/historical event, or literary work. Example (from Obama!) "I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-el, to save the Planet Earth.“ What allusion is he making? Allusion
Sensory Words Words or descriptions that appeal to the senses. – Soft, white sand – The pale, thin skin of his forearm – The mournful creak of the wooden stairs – Apple pie and cinnamon floated in the air – Sweet and tangy candy