POETRY TERMS An Exciting Language OXYMORON: joining contradictory terms to make a point or emphasize a phrase... (the cold sun, the kind killer, the small giant...) example: excerpt from "He Stands Upon His Tower Gazing" Together they are apart, apart together; opposed in flesh, combined in spirit. Apart is dependence but no freedom: together fleshly- one, but feeling separate. - Richard C. Guches STANZA: a grouping of lines in a poem (like paragraphs in an essay) REFRAIN: repetition of a group of lines, similar to the chorus of a song RHYME: repetition of end sounds of words at the same places (usually end of each line) RHYME SCHEME: the patterns of rhyme in a stanza (usually mapped out using A,B,C etc.) example: To Electra A I dare not ask a kiss, B I dare not beg a smile, A Lest having that, or this, B I might grow proud the while. A B A B No, no, the utmost share Of my desire shall be Only to kiss the air That lately kissed thee. - Robert Herrick IMAGERY: 1. sensory impressions and 2. figurative language 1. Sensory impressions: writing which appeals to the senses (sight, taste, sound, touch, smell) examples: salty, smooth, rotten, jingle 2. Figurative language: similes (like or as), metaphors (is, are, am), and personification (human characteristics to inanimate objects or animals) to communicate a more symbolic meaning, rather than literal. Example: Moons There are moons like continents Diminishing to a white stone Softly smoking In a fog-bound ocean. Equinoctial moons, Immense rain barrels spilling their yellow water. Moons like eyes turned inward, Hard and bulging On the blue cheek of eternity. And moons half-broken, Eaten by eagle shadows... But the moon of the poet Is soiled and scratched, its seas Are flowing with dust. And other moons are rising, Swollen like boilsIn their blood shot depths The warfare of planets Silently drips and festers. - John Highness ASSONANCE: (or near rhyme) where stressed vowels in words agree but the consonants do not Example: Excerpt from 258 When it comes, the Landscape listens Shadows-hold their breathWhen it goes, ‘tis like the Distance On the look of death-Emily Dickinson ALLITERATION: (Or head rhyme) the echo of the first sound of several words in a line Example: The supercilious snake suddenly and softly hissed his message. FREE VERSE: Poetry that doesn’t rhyme and doesn’t have a constant syllable count or line. BLANK VERSE: Poetry that doesn’t rhyme but follows syllable or stressed patterns. From Romeo and Juiet “but soft! What light through yonder window breaks It is the east and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sin, and kill the envious moon Who is already sick and pale with grief That thou her maid art far more fair than she.” ONOMATOPEIA: Words which represent sounds (buzz, moo, meow, swish, whirr, hiss) HYPERBOLE: When conscious exaggeration is used, not taken literally but for emotional effect UNDERSTATEMENT: When the literal sense of what is said falls short of the magnitude of what is being talked about; also used for effect Excerpt from “Courage”- Anne Sexton Later, when you face old age and its natural conclusion your courage will still be shown in the little ways, each spring will be a sword you’ll sharpen, those you love will live in a fever of love, and you’ll bargain with the calendar and at the last moment when death opens the back door you’ll put on your carpet slippers and stride out. REPETITION: The repeating of a word or phrase to add emphasis or rhythm PERSONA: The “second self” of the poet; when a poet creates a character of his/herself who is writing the poem (narrator or speaker who is separate from the poet) Mother to Son by Langston Hughes Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floorBare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's And turnin' corners. And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on those steps 'Cause you find it's kinder hard. Don't you fall nowFor I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.