Poetry Glossary

"Discover the language of poetry, from alliteration to zeugma."

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Term Definition Example
AllegoryA narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. It tells a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols that have both literal and figurative meanings.George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is an allegory of Soviet totalitarianism.
AlliterationThe occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
AllusionAn indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance."He was a real Romeo with the ladies."
AnaphoraThe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses."We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets..."
AntithesisA rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
ApostropheA figure of speech in which the poet addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing."O Death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
AssonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words."Hear the mellow wedding bells."
BalladA poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas, often with a repeated refrain.Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a famous ballad.
BathosAn abrupt transition from a serious or elevated subject to a trivial one, often for comedic effect."The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't."
Blank VerseUnrhymed iambic pentameter."The dreams are clues that tell us take chances."

Our comprehensive Poetry Glossary, designed for students, teachers, and poetry enthusiasts alike. Whether you're delving into poetic forms, exploring rhyme schemes, or understanding the nuances of metrical feet, our glossary is an essential resource to enhance your study of poetry.

Our glossary covers a wide range of poetry terms, from alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, to the structure of free verse, which flows without a fixed metrical pattern. Learn about how stressed and unstressed syllables form the foundation of metrical feet, or explore how a rhyme scheme organizes the pattern of sounds at the end of lines in a poem.

Use the search function to quickly find terms like group of lines in a stanza or the repetition of sounds in a poem or section. Whether you're looking to understand how a series of words creates rhythmic patterns or how the number of syllables affects the flow of a line of poetry, our glossary has the definitions and examples you need.

How to Use the Poetry Glossary

To find a term, use the search bar at the top of the glossary page. Start typing the word or phrase you’re looking for, and relevant entries will appear. Each entry includes a definition, examples, and additional notes for context.

Each entry in the glossary includes a clear definition of the term, followed by an example or explanation. For instance, the term "iambic pentameter" is defined as a metrical line of ten syllables, alternating between unstressed and stressed syllables. This pattern is common in English poetry, particularly in sonnets by poets like Shakespeare.

For terms that might be unfamiliar, example sentences or famous lines of poetry are included to illustrate usage. For example, a “narrative poem” might include an excerpt from a classic work, showing how it tells a story through verse, unlike shorter lyrical poems.

The glossary includes various types of poetic terms, such as rhyme schemes like "abab cdcd efef gg" or "abba abba", and poetic forms like the Shakespearean (or English) sonnet and the Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet. Each entry provides an accessible definition to help deepen your understanding of poetry.

Type "sonnet" into the search bar to find entries on both Shakespearean (or English) and Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnets. The glossary provides details on their rhyme schemes, structures, and famous examples, helping you distinguish between different types of sonnets.