Poetry Terms

Front

The pattern of rhyme in a poem or song, usually characterized by letters (ABAB or AABB, etc.).

Back

rhyme scheme

Front

The right of the poet to go against standard grammar rules and conventions

Back

poetic license

Front

The recurring pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry

Back

rhythm

Front

rhythm

Back

meter

Front

The lack of any regular rhythm or meter in a poem

Back

free verse

Front

the word choice of an author

Back

diction

Front

an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience.

Back

tone

Front

One of the divisions of a poem, usually characterized by a common pattern of meter, rhyme, and number of lines (kind of like a paragraph in prose)

Back

stanza

Front

A pair of lines in poetry that usually rhyme or have the same meter

Back

couplet

Front

A stanza of four lines, usually the lines alternate in rhyme (ABAB)

Back

quatrain