"Discover the language of poetry, from alliteration to zeugma."
Found 13 terms starting with "K"
Term | Definition | Example |
---|---|---|
Kakemono | In Japanese aesthetics, a hanging scroll used to display calligraphy or poetry. | The kakemono often features haiku or other forms of Japanese poetry. |
Kalevalaic Meter | A meter used in Finnish epic poetry, particularly in the "Kalevala". It is characterized by unrhymed lines of trochaic tetrameter. | The "Kalevala" is an epic poem written in this meter. |
Katauta | A traditional Japanese form of poetry with a syllabic structure of 5-7-7. It is often used as a part of a larger work called a "Sedoka". | A katauta may express a question or a reflection in just three lines. |
Kenning | A metaphorical compound word or phrase used in Old English and Old Norse poetry to describe something indirectly. | In "Beowulf", the sea is often referred to as the "whale-road". |
Kigo | A seasonal word or phrase used in traditional Japanese haiku to indicate the season in which the poem is set. | The word "sakura" (cherry blossoms) is a kigo for spring. |
Kigo (additional example) | A word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese haiku and related forms. | The word "cricket" is a kigo for autumn in haiku. |
Kinetic Poetry | A form of digital poetry that combines text with movement and interactivity. | A kinetic poem might display words that rearrange themselves or change color as the reader interacts with them. |
Klippe | In Scandinavian poetry, a term used to describe a sudden and abrupt ending or transition in the poem. | This technique is often used to create a dramatic effect or to emphasize the finality of a statement. |
Knittelvers | A German poetic form characterized by simple language, regular meter, and frequent use of rhymed couplets. | Knittelvers was commonly used in medieval German drama and narrative poetry. |
Kundiman | A traditional Filipino love song or poem that expresses deep, often unrequited love. | Kundiman often features themes of love and loss, with a melancholic tone. |
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"