Poetry Glossary

Explore our comprehensive glossary of poetry terms. Whether you're a student, teacher, or poetry enthusiast, our glossary will help you understand key concepts, definitions, and examples that are essential in the study of poetry.

Use the search function to quickly find specific terms, or browse through the entire glossary to enhance your understanding of poetic devices and literary terms.

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Term Definition Example
LamentA passionate expression of grief or sorrow, often in poetic form."How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
LamentA passionate expression of grief or sorrow, often in a song or poem.Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" is a lament.
Light VersePoetry intended to entertain or amuse, often with a playful or humorous tone.Ogden Nash's poetry is a good example of light verse.
LimerickA humorous five-line poem with a rhyme scheme of AABBA."There was an Old Man with a beard, Who said, 'It is just as I feared.'"
LitotesA figure of speech that employs understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions."Not bad" as a litotes for "good."