Poetic Devices and Terms

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Stanza

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A grouped set of lines within a poem, often sharing a common rhyme scheme or meter.

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Iambic Pentameter

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A type of metric line used in traditional English poetry and verse drama, consisting of five iambs per line.

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Alliteration

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The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

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Rhyme Scheme

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The ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse.

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Couplet

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Two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, that form a unit.

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Assonance

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The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

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Paradox

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A statement that contradicts itself but might contain a hidden truth.

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Hyperbole

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Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

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Anaphora

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The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

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Tone

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The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.