Poetry has basic elements including stanzas of grouped lines such as couplets, tercets, and quatrains. Poems also use rhyme through the repetition of similar sounds, along with a rhyme scheme. Additionally, poems have a meter defined by stressed and unstressed syllables that create a rhythm. Further elements are the theme or message of the poem, any symbolism used to convey ideas, and imagery that appeals to the five senses.

1. BASIC
ELEMENTS OF A
POEM

2. POETRY ELEMENTS

3. BASIC
ELEMENTS OF
A POEM

4. What is Poetry?
Poetry is defined as “literature in
a metrical form” or “a
composition forming metric
lines”.

6. STANZA
A series of lines grouped together
-COUPLET ( 2 lines)
-TERCET ( 3 lines)
-QUATRAIN ( 4 lines)
-CINQUAIN ( 5 lines)
-SESTET (6 lines)
- SEPTET ( 7 lines)
- OCTAVE ( 8 lines)

7. COUPLET ( 2 lines)

8. TERCET ( 3 lines)

9. QUATRAIN ( 4 lines)

10. CINQUAIN ( 5 lines)

11. SESTET ( 6 lines)

12. SEPTET ( 7 lines)

13. OCTAVE ( 8 lines)

14. RHYME
Repetition of similar sounds
Example:
I saw a fairy in the wood
He was dressed all in green
He drew his sword while I just stood
And realized I’d been seen

16. RHYME SCHEME
A continuation of rhyme

18. METER
Basic structural make-up of a
poem
RHYTHM
Music made by the stressed and
the unstressed syllables

20. THEME – message of the poem
SYMBOLISM – symbols that
convey ideas

23. IMAGERY – device used for readers to
create an image that encompasses the
five senses