Poetry Glossary - Understand Poetry Terms

Term	Definition	Example
Tragedy	A serious and often somber narrative poem or drama in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, particularly as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.	The tragic hero’s downfall was poignantly depicted in the poem’s closing lines.
Transcendentalism	A philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the early 19th century, emphasizing the inherent goodness of people and nature, and the value of individual intuition over established doctrine, often reflected in poetry.	The poet’s transcendentalist themes celebrated the unity of the soul with nature.
Travesty	A literary or artistic work that mocks or ridicules a serious subject by treating it in a grotesquely trivial or absurd manner.	The poet’s travesty of the epic poem was both humorous and biting in its critique of heroism.
Tribrach	A metrical foot used in classical poetry consisting of three short syllables, often used in a rapid succession of speech.	The tribrach in the poem’s line added a quick, lively tempo to the verse.
Trimeter	A line of verse containing three metrical feet.	The poet’s use of trimeter in each line created a consistent and rhythmic flow.
Triolet	A short poem of eight lines with only two rhymes, and with the first line repeated three times.	The poet’s triolet captured the fleeting nature of love in just eight lines.
Trochee	A metrical foot in poetry consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.	The poem’s trochaic meter gave it a marching, rhythmic quality.
Trope	A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression in poetry, often to create a particular effect or convey a complex idea.	The poet’s use of the sun as a trope for hope illuminated the entire poem.
Trope	A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression in poetry, often to create a particular effect or convey a complex idea.	The poet’s use of the sun as a trope for hope illuminated the entire poem.
Turn	Also known as a volta, the turn refers to a shift in thought, tone, or argument in a poem, often found in sonnets.	The turn in the final couplet of the sonnet added a surprising twist to the theme.

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.