Form and Structure:
* Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit within a poem.
* Line: A single line of poetry.
* Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
* Meter: A specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythmic effect (e.g., iambic pentameter, trochaic tetrameter).
* Rhyme: The repetition of similar sounds, typically at the end of lines (e.g., rhyme scheme, internal rhyme).
* Form: The overall structure of the poem (e.g., sonnet, haiku, free verse, ode, ballad).
Language and Imagery:
* Imagery: Language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) and creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind.
* Figurative Language: Language that goes beyond the literal meaning to create a special effect. This includes:
* Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "The world is a stage.").
* Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "The night is like a black velvet curtain.").
* Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals (e.g., "The wind whispered secrets.").
* Symbolism: The use of objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas (e.g., a dove representing peace).
* Diction: Word choice, which can create specific effects like tone or imagery.
* Syntax: The arrangement of words in a sentence.
* Sound Devices: Techniques used to create a musical effect:
* Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words (e.g., "Peter Piper picked a peck...").
* Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words (e.g., "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain").
* Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within words (e.g., "The silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.").
Content and Theme:
* Theme: The central idea or message of the poem.
* Tone: The author's attitude toward the subject matter.
* Mood: The overall feeling the poem evokes in the reader.
* Subject: What the poem is about (e.g., love, nature, loss).
* Speaker: The voice that speaks in the poem, not necessarily the author.
Other Elements:
* Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase beyond the end of a line.
* Caesura: A pause or break within a line of poetry.
These elements work together to create a complex and layered meaning in poetry. Remember, poetry is meant to be read aloud to fully appreciate its rhythm and sound.