Poetry Glossary - Understand Poetry Terms

Term	Definition	Example
Internal Rhyme	Rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse.	"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary."
Inversion	The normal order of words is reversed, typically for emphasis or meter.	"In the dark shadows stood he."
Irony	The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, often for humorous or emphatic effect.	"The fire station burned down."
Irony	The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite.	The fire station burned down.
Jamb	A metrical foot in a poem that includes two syllables: an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. It is the opposite of a trochee.	The use of jambs in the poem provided a natural, flowing rhythm.
Jargon	Specialized language used by a particular profession or group, often used in poetry to give a sense of authenticity or to create a particular mood.	The poet’s use of medical jargon added realism to the depiction of the hospital scene.
Jeremiad	A long literary work, usually prose, but sometimes in verse, in which the author laments the state of society and its morals in a serious tone.	Many of the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. could be considered modern-day jeremiads.
Jest	A joking or mocking remark, often used in poetry to lighten the mood or add humor.	The poet’s jest at the beginning of the poem contrasted with the more serious tone that followed.
Jingle	A short verse or song marked by catchy repetition and bouncy rhythm, often used in advertising.	The poet’s jingle was memorable and effective, embedding itself in the reader’s mind.
Journey Motif	A common theme in poetry where the protagonist undergoes a journey, symbolizing growth, self-discovery, or transformation.	The poet used the journey motif to explore the character’s inner transformation.

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.