"Discover the language of poetry, from alliteration to zeugma."
Found 6 terms starting with "O"
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Octave | An octave is a poetic form consisting of eight lines, often found in sonnets or longer poems. It typically follows a specific rhyme scheme, with the most common pattern being ABBAABBA. In many cases, the octave is written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables with alternating stressed and unstressed beats. A well-known variation of the form is the Sicilian octave, which uses the ABABABAB rhyme pattern. The octave is frequently used to introduce or develop an argument or theme that is resolved in a subsequent section of the poem. | The first eight lines of a Petrarchan sonnet form an octave. |
| Ode | A type of lyrical stanza, a poem that praises something or someone. | John Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is a classic example. |
| Onomatopoeia | A word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. | The bees buzzed, and the brook gurgled as it flowed. |
| Ottava Rima | A stanza of eight lines with an ABABABCC rhyme scheme. | Byron used ottava rima in "Don Juan". |
| Oxymoron | A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. | Jumbo shrimp, deafening silence. |
| Oxymoron | A figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. | "Deafening silence." |
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
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