This document defines and explains various terms related to poetry. It discusses poetry arrangement like form and free verse. It also defines concepts like stanza, sounds including alliteration and rhyme. It explains figurative language devices such as simile, metaphor, personification and symbolism. Finally, it touches on other elements like rhythm, tone, theme and allusion.

1. Poetry Terms andPoetry Terms and
ExplanationsExplanations
English 10English 10

2. Poetry ArrangementPoetry Arrangement
Form: Physical arrangement of the wordsForm: Physical arrangement of the words
on the pageon the page
Free Verse: No formal pattern, syllableFree Verse: No formal pattern, syllable
arrangement or rhyme schemearrangement or rhyme scheme
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loaf and invite my soul,I loaf and invite my soul,
I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
(from Walt Whitman(from Walt Whitman Song of MyselfSong of Myself))

3. Stanza: consists of two or more lines of poetry thatStanza: consists of two or more lines of poetry that
together form one of the divisions of a poemtogether form one of the divisions of a poem
I heard a fly buzz when I died;I heard a fly buzz when I died;
The stillness round my formThe stillness round my form
Was like the stillness in the airWas like the stillness in the air
Between the heaves of storm.Between the heaves of storm.
The eyes beside had wrung them dry,The eyes beside had wrung them dry,
And breaths were gathering sureAnd breaths were gathering sure
For that last onset, when the kingFor that last onset, when the king
Be witnessed in his power.Be witnessed in his power.
I willed my keepsakes, signed awayI willed my keepsakes, signed away
What portion of me IWhat portion of me I
Could make assignable,-and thenCould make assignable,-and then
There interposed a fly,There interposed a fly,
With blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz,With blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz,
Between the light and me;Between the light and me;
And then the windows failed, and thenAnd then the windows failed, and then
I could not see to see.I could not see to see.
(Emily Dickenson(Emily Dickenson DyingDying))
There
are four
stanzas.

4. SoundsSounds
Alliteration: repetition of initial consonantAlliteration: repetition of initial consonant
soundssounds
JoanJoan sslitheredlithered ssideways like aideways like a ssneakyneaky ssnake.nake.
Assonance: repetition of vowel soundAssonance: repetition of vowel sound
GrGreeeed as dd as deeeep as the sp as the seaea
Consonance: repetition of final sounds inConsonance: repetition of final sounds in
two or more wordstwo or more words
She had a fouShe had a foundnd a soua soundnd mimindnd..

5. ““I’m a poet and didn’t know it!”I’m a poet and didn’t know it!”
 Rhyme: repetition of end sounds, usually at the sameRhyme: repetition of end sounds, usually at the same
place in different lines.place in different lines.
 Rhyme scheme: pattern formed by rhymes at the end ofRhyme scheme: pattern formed by rhymes at the end of
the linethe line
From Edgar Allan Poe’s AloneFrom Edgar Allan Poe’s Alone
From childhood’s hour I have notFrom childhood’s hour I have not beenbeen AA
As others were; I have notAs others were; I have not seenseen AA
As others saw; I could notAs others saw; I could not bringbring BB
My passions from a commonMy passions from a common springspring. B. B
From the same source I have notFrom the same source I have not takentaken CC
My sorrow; I could notMy sorrow; I could not awakenawaken CC
My heart to joy at the sameMy heart to joy at the same tone;tone; DD
And all I loved, I lovedAnd all I loved, I loved alone.alone. DD

6. RhythymRhythym
Rhythm: pattern or beat of stressed andRhythm: pattern or beat of stressed and
unstressed syllables in a line of poetryunstressed syllables in a line of poetry
Iambic pentameterIambic pentameter

7. Figurative Language: devices used toFigurative Language: devices used to
create strong imagerycreate strong imagery
Simile: uses words like and as to createSimile: uses words like and as to create
an unlikely comparisonan unlikely comparison
The bowl of noodles lookedThe bowl of noodles looked likelike a hive ofa hive of
snakes.snakes.
Metaphor: direct comparison using aMetaphor: direct comparison using a
linking verb (creates a stronger imagelinking verb (creates a stronger image
than a simile)than a simile)
II amam the storm that ruined her chances ofthe storm that ruined her chances of
winning the championship.winning the championship.

8. Metaphors and Simile use a vehicleMetaphors and Simile use a vehicle
and a tenor in their comparisons.and a tenor in their comparisons.
VehicleVehicle: the image ( or activity or: the image ( or activity or
concept) used to represent or “figure”concept) used to represent or “figure”
something else.something else.
Tenor:Tenor: the thing which is representedthe thing which is represented
(may be implied, not explicitly stated)(may be implied, not explicitly stated)

9. Example of Tenor and VehicleExample of Tenor and Vehicle
TheThe bowl of noodlesbowl of noodles looked like alooked like a hive ofhive of
snakes.snakes.
Tenor
Vehicle
“drives” image to
your head

10. More Figurative LanguageMore Figurative Language
Personification: animals, inanimate objectsPersonification: animals, inanimate objects
or ideas are given human emotions oror ideas are given human emotions or
qualitiesqualities
The fireThe fire swallowedswallowed the small village.the small village.
Onomatopoeia: use of words to indicateOnomatopoeia: use of words to indicate
the sound they refer tothe sound they refer to
Snort, clank, buzz, sizzleSnort, clank, buzz, sizzle

11. Figurative Language Con’tFigurative Language Con’t
 Symbolism: the act of using a person, place, thing,Symbolism: the act of using a person, place, thing,
activity or idea that stands for something else that can beactivity or idea that stands for something else that can be
either concrete or abstracteither concrete or abstract
 Tone: attitude the writer takes toward a character orTone: attitude the writer takes toward a character or
situation in their writing, usually enforced with wordsituation in their writing, usually enforced with word
choicechoice
 Theme: the overall meaning or message of the poem,Theme: the overall meaning or message of the poem,
insight into human nature or lifeinsight into human nature or life
 Dramatic situation: the plot of the poem (the speaker, theDramatic situation: the plot of the poem (the speaker, the
setting, the events)setting, the events)

12. AllusionAllusion
 is a brief reference to a place, event, literaryis a brief reference to a place, event, literary
work,work, mythmyth, or work of art, either directly or by, or work of art, either directly or by
implication.implication.
 Can be a very effective literary device so long asCan be a very effective literary device so long as
the reader is familiar with the reference.the reader is familiar with the reference.
 I am noI am no cowardly lioncowardly lion..
 This mistake will be ourThis mistake will be our icebergiceberg..
 We’ve got our ownWe’ve got our own Benedick and BeatriceBenedick and Beatrice at thisat this
party.party.
 Don’t be such aDon’t be such a ScroogeScrooge..

13. (Sonnets)(Sonnets)
Quatrain: a stanza consisting of four linesQuatrain: a stanza consisting of four lines
Couplet: a stanza consisting of two linesCouplet: a stanza consisting of two lines