Poetic Language

Rhyme  - Two words that sound alike.  make and take, hot and pot, care and bear

Meter  -     The rhythm established by the poem -- Rhythm comes through the number of syllables in the line and the accents on the syllables. 

Example:

                                                                                  From "Hoppity" by A. A. Milne

Iambic Pentameter   -  One type of meter is iambic pentameter.  Shakespeare often uses iambic pentameter. "Iambic means the stress is on the second syllable, i.e. good-bye.  Pentameter shows us that a line has five "feet" or clusters of two syllables adding up to ten syllables in a line.  These "feet" are marked like this

hello | hello | hello | hello | hello. "

Allusion  - An allusion is a reference to a person, place, thing or idea. The reference usually is  not explained. The mention of the allusion will add detail to the poem for the reader if he or she is familiar with the person, place, thing or idea alluded to by the poet.

Simile - A simile is a comparison using the words "like" or "as." 

• The rabbit was as white as snow.
• Rumpelstiltskin raged and stomped his way around the campfire like a tempest in a teapot

Metaphor - A metaphor is a comparison that does not use the words like or as.  The comparison is a direct comparison. 

• "The moon's the North Wind's cookie"
• "The South Wind is a baker"

                                     From: "The Moon is the North Wind's Cookie" by Vachel Lindsay

Other Pages in this Resource

• Poetry Work Plan: How to Use This Site

• Poetry: Page One

• What is Poetry

• Some Types of Poetry

• Some Famous Poets

• Do-It-Yourself Poetry Center