This list provides a wide range of poetry terms, categorized for easy reference.
Structure & Form
* Acrostic: A poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word or phrase.
* Ballad: A narrative poem, often with a simple rhyme scheme and a focus on storytelling.
* Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter.
* Cinquain: A five-line poem with a specific syllable count pattern.
* Couplet: Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.
* Free Verse: Poetry that does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter.
* Haiku: A three-line poem with a syllable count of 5-7-5.
* Limerick: A five-line humorous poem with a specific rhyme scheme (AABBA).
* Ode: A lyrical poem praising a person, object, or event.
* Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter.
* Stanza: A group of lines in a poem, forming a unit.
* Villanelle: A 19-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and refrain.
Sound Devices
* Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
* Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
* Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within words.
* Caesura: A pause in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation.
* Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate the sounds they represent.
* Repetition: Repeating words, phrases, or lines for emphasis.
* Rhyme: Using words that sound alike.
* Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
Figurative Language
* Allegory: A story with a hidden meaning, often used to convey a moral or political message.
* Hyperbole: An exaggeration used for emphasis.
* Imagery: Language that appeals to the senses.
* Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things, without using "like" or "as."
* Metonymy: Using a word to represent something closely related to it.
* Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals.
* Simile: A comparison between two unlike things, using "like" or "as."
* Symbolism: Using a symbol to represent an idea or concept.
Other Poetry Terms
* Diction: The poet's word choice.
* Enjambment: Continuing a sentence or thought from one line to the next without punctuation.
* Meter: The rhythmic pattern of a line of poetry.
* Narrative Poem: A poem that tells a story.
* Persona: The voice or character created by the poet.
* Theme: The main idea or message of a poem.
* Tone: The poet's attitude toward the subject matter.
Additional Resources:
* Poetry Foundation: [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/)
* Poetry Out Loud: [https://www.poetryoutloud.org/](https://www.poetryoutloud.org/)
This list is not exhaustive, but it provides a starting point for understanding the language of poetry.