Poetry Terms

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Blank Verse

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Poetry written with a precise meter—almost always iambic pentameter—that does not rhyme.

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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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Stanza

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A group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.

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Narrative Poem

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A form of poetry that tells a story, such as 'The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere'.

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Pastoral

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A poem dealing with rural life, often involving shepherds, representing the idealized version of country life.

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Limerick

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A humorous, often nonsensical poem consisting of five lines with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme.

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Haiku

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A traditional form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.

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Elegy

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A mournful poem, often written in remembrance of someone who has died.

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Ode

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A lyrical poem that expresses praise or admiration for a person, place, thing, or idea.

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Sestet

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A six-line stanza or the last six lines of a sonnet.