Elements of Poetry
Simile -​a figure of speech comparing two objects using “like” or “as”.
Metaphor​- a figure of speech that suggests a non-literal similarity
Personification​- attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas
Alliteration​- use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word
Repetition​- the act of doing or performing again
Assonance -​ the repetition of similar vowels in successive words
Consonance​- the property of sounding harmonious
Sibilance​- ​the repetition of the “S” sound. Ex: the slippery snake sank soundlessly under the surface.
Hyperbole - t​ he over exaggeration of a phrase or object
Oxymoron - a​ figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction Ex: Icy hot, jumbo
shrimp.
Onomatopoeia -​ using words that imitate the sound they denote
Rhyme​- correspondence in the final sounds of two or more lines
End rhyme​:​rhymed sound at the end of the line.
Internal rhyme​: rhymed sound before the end of the line.
True rhyme​: the last syllable rhyme sounds (and is usually spelled) exactly the same.
Slant rhyme(off rhyme)​: substitution of assonance or consonance for true rhyme.
Rhyme scheme​: a repeated pattern of end rhymes; usually marked with letters of the
alphabet(ABBA would mark a rhyme scheme in the first stanza of , say, dog/man/plan/fog;
CDDC would mark a rhyme scheme in the second stanza of ,say. map/press/dress/slap).
Rhythm​- an interval during which a recurring sequence occurs
Stanza -​ a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
Elements of Poetry
Meter​- a basic unit of length (approximately 1.094 yards)
Free Verse Poetry​- Does not abide by rules or format like traditional poetry
Traditional Poetry ​- Poetry that has a format and is written with a set of rules
Ex: Sonnet - a verse form of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme
Ode - a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
Ballad - a narrative poem of popular origin
Epic - a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
Limerick - a humorous rhymed verse form of five lines