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.
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| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. | The world is a stage. |
| Meter | The rhythm of a piece of poetry, determined by the number and length of feet in a line. | Iambic pentameter, often used by Shakespeare, is a type of meter. |
| Metonymy | A figure of speech in which a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. | "The White House issued a statement" where "The White House" refers to the U.S. President or administration. |
| Mock Epic | A poem that parodies the epic by treating a trivial subject in a grand style. | Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" is a famous mock epic. |
| Monometer | A line of verse consisting of a single metrical foot. | "Thus I Pass by, And die: As one, Unknown, And gone." |