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 |
|---|---|---|
| Qasida | A form of Persian and Arabic lyric poetry, usually a long ode, dealing with themes such as praise, satire, or lament, often in a highly ornate style. | The poet composed a qasida in honor of the king, its verses rich with praise and metaphor. |
| Qawwali | A form of devotional Sufi music, often featuring poetic lyrics that focus on love, devotion, and the divine, traditionally performed in South Asia. | The poet’s verses were set to qawwali, their spiritual themes resonating with the audience. |
| Quaint | Attractively unusual or old-fashioned, a term often used to describe the charm of a poem that evokes nostalgia or simplicity. | The poet’s quaint verses harkened back to a simpler time, each word a step into the past. |
| Quandary | A state of uncertainty or perplexity, often used in poetry to describe a character’s inner conflict or a difficult situation. | The poet’s verse captured the protagonist’s quandary, torn between love and duty. |
| Quantum Poetry | A contemporary movement or style that explores the intersection of science, particularly quantum physics, and poetry, often focusing on themes of uncertainty, complexity, and the nature of reality. | The poet’s quantum poetry challenged readers to think about the nature of reality and perception. |
| Quatrain | A stanza of four lines, often with alternating rhymes. | The most common rhyme scheme for a quatrain is ABAB, as seen in many of Emily Dickinson's poems. |
| Queneau, Raymond | A French poet and novelist known for his experimental use of language and form, often cited in discussions of 20th-century literary innovation. | The poet’s playful use of language was inspired by the works of Raymond Queneau, pushing the boundaries of traditional verse. |
| Querelle des Anciens et des Modernes | A literary and artistic debate that took place in the late 17th century, particularly in France, over the relative merits of classical (ancient) and contemporary (modern) art and literature. | The poet’s work was influenced by the querelle des anciens et des modernes, blending classical forms with modern themes. |
| Querencia | A term from bullfighting, referring to the spot in the arena where the bull feels most secure and in control; in poetry, it can symbolize a place of refuge or strength. | The poet’s querencia was found in nature, where the verses breathed life into the serene landscape. |
| Quibble | A play on words, often involving a pun or a subtle twist in meaning, used in poetry and rhetoric to create humor or a double entendre. | The poet’s quibble in the final line left readers smiling at the clever twist of meaning. |