poetry moment

 
 
 

 
Personification 

A figure of speech in which an animal, object, or 
idea is given human characteristics. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alliteration 

Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings 
of words 

 
 

 

Onomatopoeia 

The repetition of the same or similar sounds, 
usually in stressed syllables at the ends of lines.The 
use of words or phrases whose sounds suggest their 
meanings. The sound of the word boom, for 
example, suggests an explosion.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Rhythm​ Musical quality created by a pattern of 

beats or stresses in a line of poetry

 

 
 
 

  

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

End rhyme 
Rhyme that occurs at the end of lines. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Internal rhyme 
Rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry. 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 

Stanzas 
A group of lines in a poem set off by blank lines. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Symbol 
A person, place, an object, or an action that stands 
for something beyond itself. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Simile 
A comparison using like or as  
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Metaphor 
Direct comparison between 
two unlike things. It does not use 
the words like or as. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Hyperbole 
Figure of speech in which the 
truth is exaggerated for emphasis or 
humorous effect. 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Free Verse 
Poetry written without a regular 
rhyme scheme, meter, or form 

 

 
 
 
 

Imagery 
Language that appeals to the five senses---touch, 

taste, smell, hearing, and sight. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lyric poem 
Short poem that directly expresses the poet’s 
thoughts and emotions in a musical way. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
‘ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Narrative poem 
Poem that tells a story. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhyme scheme 
The sequence in which the rhyme occurs. The first 
end sound is represented as the letter a, the second 
b, etc. 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Poetry  
A form of writing that uses not only words, but 
also form, patterns of sound, imagery, and 
figurative language to convey its message. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sound devices 
Techniques used to create a sense of rhythm or to 

emphasize particular sounds. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Meter 
Regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables 
that gives a line of poetry a predictable rhythm. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figurative language 
The use of words to create an image in the reader's 
mind. 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mood 
The feeling or atmosphere created by the writer. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Idiom  
A phrase or expression whose meaning is different 
from what the words say literally. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Symbolism 
A literary device where a physical object represents 
something else. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Repetition 
A technique in which the same word or line is 
repeated for emphasis or unity. Helps to reinforce 
meaning and create an appealing rhythm. 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refrain 
Stanza or line that is repeated throughout the 
poem. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Couplet 
Rhymed pair of lines in a poem.