"Discover the language of poetry, from alliteration to zeugma."
Found 9 terms starting with "I"
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Iamb | A metrical foot consisting of one short syllable followed by one long syllable. | "The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow." |
| Idyll | A short poem describing a picturesque scene or incident, especially in rustic life. | Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" is an example. |
| Idyll | A short poem describing a simple, peaceful, and pastoral scene, often about rural life. | Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" is a famous example. |
| Imagery | Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work. | The autumn leaves are a blanket on the ground. |
| Imagism | A poetic movement emphasizing clear, sharp language and images, avoiding abstract ideas in favor of concrete imagery. | Ezra Pound and H.D. were leading figures in the Imagist movement. |
| Internal Rhyme | Rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse. | "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary." |
| Inversion | The normal order of words is reversed, typically for emphasis or meter. | "In the dark shadows stood he." |
| Irony | The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. | The fire station burned down. |
| Irony | The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, often for humorous or emphatic effect. | "The fire station burned down." |
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.
Finding terms is easy:
Tip: Try searching for "rhyme," "meter," or "sonnet" to get started!
Every entry includes three key parts:
Iambic Pentameter: A rhythm pattern of 10 syllables per line, alternating unstressed-stressed.
Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" (Shakespeare)
Note: Most common meter in English sonnets.
Our examples help you see poetry terms in action:
Our glossary covers all major areas of poetry:
Rhyme schemes, meter, alliteration, assonance
Metaphor, simile, personification, symbolism
Sonnets, haikus, villanelles, free verse
Stanzas, lines, caesura, enjambment
Sonnets are one of poetry's most beloved forms. Here's how to explore them:
Structure: 3 quatrains + 1 couplet
Rhyme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Famous: "Shall I compare thee..."
Structure: 1 octave + 1 sestet
Rhyme: ABBAABBA CDECDE
Origin: Italian tradition
• Click "S" in the alphabetical menu
• Search "sonnet" to see all types
• Look for related terms like "quatrain" and "couplet"