POETRY TERMS

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POETRY TERMS

• An Exciting Language

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OXYMORON joining contradictory terms to make a
point or emphasize a phrase... (the cold sun, the
kind killer, the small giant...)

• example excerpt from "He Stands Upon His Tower
  Gazing"
• Together they are apart,
• apart together opposed in flesh,
• combined in spirit.
• Apart is dependence but no freedom
• together fleshly- one,
• but feeling
• separate.
• - Richard C. Guches

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STANZA

• a grouping of lines in a poem (like paragraphs in
  an essay)

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REFRAIN

• repetition of a group of lines, similar to the
  chorus of a song

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RHYME

• repetition of end sounds of words at the same
  places (usually end of each line)

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RHYME SCHEME

• the patterns of rhyme in a stanza (usually mapped
  out using A,B,C etc.)

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IMAGERY

• 1. sensory impressions and
• 2. figurative language

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1. Sensory impressions

• writing which appeals to the senses (sight,
  taste, sound, touch, smell)
• examples salty, smooth, rotten, jingle

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2. Figurative language

• similes (like or as), metaphors (is, are, am),
  and personification (human characteristics to
  inanimate objects or animals) to communicate a
  more symbolic meaning, rather than literal.

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Example Moons There are moons like
continents Diminishing to a white stone Softly
smoking In a fog-bound ocean. Equinoctial moons,
Immense rain barrels spilling their yellow
water. Moons like eyes turned inward, Hard and
bulging On the blue cheek of eternity.
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And moons half-broken, Eaten by eagle
shadows... But the moon of the poet Is soiled
and scratched, its seas Are flowing with
dust. And other moons are rising, Swollen like
boils- In their blood shot depths The warfare of
planets Silently drips and festers. -
John Highness
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ASSONANCE

• (or near rhyme) where stressed vowels in words
  agree but the consonants do not

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Example Excerpt from 258 When it comes, the
Landscape listens Shadows-hold their breath- When
it goes, tis like the Distance On the look of
death- -Emily Dickinson
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ALLITERATION

• (Or head rhyme) the echo of the first sound of
  several words in a line
• Example The supercilious snake suddenly and
  softly hissed his message.

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FREE VERSE

• Poetry that doesnt rhyme and doesnt have a
  constant syllable count or line.

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BLANK VERSE

• Poetry that doesnt rhyme but follows syllable or
  stressed patterns.

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• From Romeo and Juiet
• but soft! What light through yonder window
  breaks
• It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
• Arise, fair sin, and kill the envious moon
• Who is already sick and pale with grief
• That thou her maid art far more fair than she.

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ONOMATOPEIA

• Words which represent sounds (buzz, moo, meow,
  swish, whirr, hiss)

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HYPERBOLE

• When conscious exaggeration is used, not taken
  literally but for emotional effect

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UNDERSTATEMENT

• When the literal sense of what is said falls
  short of the magnitude of what is being talked
  about also used for effect

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PERSONA

• The second self of the poet when a poet
  creates a character of his/herself who is writing
  the poem (narrator or speaker who is separate
  from the poet)

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And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there
ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn
back. Don't you set down on those
steps 'Cause you find it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now-
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin', And life for me
ain't been no crystal stair.