Poetry Terms

Front

Imagery

Back

Use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses.
Example: "The golden sun set behind the purple mountains, casting long shadows over the valley."

Front

Line Break

Back

The point where a line of poetry ends, controlling rhythm and emphasis.

Example:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.

Front

Onomatopoeia

Back

Words that represent sound, such as "buzz," "bang," or "sizzle."

Front

Repetition

Back

The use of repeated words, phrases, or lines for emphasis or to create a musical effect.

Example: "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

Front

Rhyme Scheme

Back

A consistent pattern of rhymes at the end of lines. For example, in the poem:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you.
The rhyme scheme is AABB.

Front

Meter

Back

The rhythmic structure of a poem, defined by a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. Free verse does not have a regular meter.

Front

Stanza

Back

A group of lines in a poem.

Front

Assonance

Back

Repetition of vowel sounds in different words that are close together.
Example: "Hear the mellow wedding bells"

Front

Figurative Language

Back

Language that uses simile, metaphor, and personification, such as "The wind whispered through the trees" (personification), "Her smile was as bright as the sun" (simile), and "Time is a thief" (metaphor), to enhance meaning.

Front

Simile

Back

A comparison of two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.'
Example: Her smile was as bright as the sun.