Poetry Terms!

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

In contrast to blank verse, these poems rhyme by definition, although their scheme varies.

Poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form.

These poems are lengthy, narrative works of poetry. These long poems typically detail extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from a distant past.

Similar to an epic, a these poems tell a story. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” exemplify this form.

A three-line poetic form originating in Japan. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line again has five syllables.

This poem is one that concerns the natural world, rural life, and landscapes. These poems have persevered from Ancient Greece (in the poetry of Hesiod) to Ancient Rome (Virgil) to the present day (Gary Snyder).

A 14 line poem, typically (but not exclusively) concerning the topic of love. Poems contain internal rhymes within their 14 lines; the exact rhyme scheme depends on the style of a sonnet.

A poem that reflects upon death or loss. Traditionally, it contains themes of mourning, loss, and reflection. However, it can also explore themes of redemption and consolation.

Much like an elegy, this poem is a tribute to its subject, although the subject need not be dead—or even sentient.