Elements of Poetry
Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in lines of poetry. Example: “The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, Went envying her and me.” -EA Poe, “Annabel Lee”
Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within non-rhyming words. Example: “My grandmothers are full of memories Smelling of soap and onions and wet clay” -Margaret Walker, “Lineage”
Consonance Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the ends of words in lines of poetry. Example: “But father answered never a word.”
Allusion Allusion is an indirect reference to another literary work, or to a famous person, place, or event. Example: Oh, stop being such a Romeo.
Metaphor Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike, but have something in common. Example: That assignment was a breeze. A metaphor that compares two unlike things at some length and in several ways is an EXTENDED METAPHOR. Example: All the world's a stage and men and women merely players.
Figurative Language Figurative language is language that communicates beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words. Examples include: hyperbole, metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, personification, symbol, imagery
Hyperbole Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect. Example: I could smell the pizza from a mile away.
Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings. Examples: pow, buzz, crunch, beep, woof
Personification Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea. Example: The wind whispered through the trees.
Simile Simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”. Example: She was so embarrassed, her face was as red as a tomato.
Symbolism Symbolism is the use of a symbol; a person, place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself. Examples: The American flag is a symbol for freedom. The color white symbolizes peace and purity.
Parallelism Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or of equal importance. Example: "It is by logic we prove, but by intuition we discover.“ - Leonardo DaVinci "When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.“ - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Meter Meter is the regular pattern of accented (stressed) and unaccented (unstressed) syllables in a line of poetry. Not all poems have regular meter.
Repetition Repetition is a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for effect or emphasis. The repetition of one or more lines in each stanza of a poem is a REFRAIN.
Rhyme Rhyme is the occurrence of a similar or identical sound at the ends of two or more words. Example: suite, heat, complete End Rhyme occurs at the ends of lines. Internal Rhyme occurs within lines.
Rhyme Scheme Rhyme scheme is the pattern of end rhyme in a poem, charted with letters of the alphabet. Example: Roses are red (a) Violets are blue (b) Sugar is sweet (c) And so are you (b)
Rhythm Rhythm is the pattern or flow of sound created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in lines of poetry.
Stanza A stanza is a grouping of two or more lines in a pattern that is repeated throughout a poem. In other words, it’s basically a poetic paragraph.
Free Verse Free verse poetry is poetry that does not contain a regular pattern of rhyme and meter.