Poetry and Literary Terms

Tanka

• A type of Japanese poem with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern.

• A traditional Japanese dance form.

• A style of Japanese painting characterized by its use of watercolors.

• A form of Japanese calligraphy that emphasizes brush strokes.

Metaphor

• Comparison of two things using 'like' or 'as'.

• Comparison of two things without using 'like' or 'as'.

• A figure of speech that exaggerates for emphasis.

• A direct statement of fact without comparison.

Bio poem

• A poem about a specific person or character.

• A poem that describes nature and landscapes.

• A poem that tells a story with a moral lesson.

• A poem that expresses emotions and feelings.

Acrostic

• A type of poetry where the first letters of each line create a word.

• A poem that tells a story in a structured format.

• A form of poetry that uses rhyme and meter exclusively.

• A style of poetry that focuses on nature and landscapes.

Poetry

• Writing that evokes an emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.

• A form of writing that tells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

• A type of writing that focuses on factual information and analysis.

• A style of writing that uses humor and satire to critique society.

Cinquain

• A three line poem with a rhyme scheme

• A five line poem where each line follows specific rules: line 1=noun; line 2=2 adjectives; line 3= 3 -ing verbs; line 4= a sensory phrase; line 5= a synonym for line 1.

• A poem that consists of a single stanza

• A poem that tells a story in a structured format.

Simile

• Comparison of two things using the words 'like' or 'as'.

• A figure of speech that exaggerates for emphasis.

• A comparison that does not use 'like' or 'as'.

• A statement that contradicts itself.

Haiku

• A type of Japanese poem that shows reflections of nature and feelings. It has 3 lines that follow a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.

• A traditional Japanese dance performed during festivals.

• A form of Japanese calligraphy that emphasizes brush strokes.

• A style of Japanese painting that focuses on landscapes.

Rhyme

• A literary device that involves the repetition of consonant sounds

• Two or more words with the same end sound.

• A type of poem that tells a story

• A figure of speech that compares two unlike things

Concrete/Shape poem

• A type of poem that describes an object and is shaped like the object it's describing.

• A poem that focuses on the emotions of the poet without any specific structure.

• A narrative poem that tells a story in a linear fashion.

• A poem that uses rhyme and meter to create a musical quality.