Poetry Terms- Definitions

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Complication

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A series or introduction of difficult conflicts leading up to the climax of the story. They help develop the central climax.

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Connotation

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A secondary meaning to a word. A meaning behind the normal meaning. Deep thinking squished into a word/phrase.

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Free Verse

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Poetry that has no fixed pattern. Natural speech rhythms, not rhyming. Very relaxed compared to other poetic styles.

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Ode

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A long, structured poem. Usually serious on a pensive topic. But it can be lighthearted. Lots of emotion. Some can be sung.

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Understatement

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A figure of speech, especially irony, when the writer intentionally represents something in a way that it shows less than it actually means.

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Subplot

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A second plot in a story, a subordinate plot. Usually parallel to the main plot. Can be used to create humor.

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Epigram

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A short poem, witty.

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Aubade

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A song or poem, usually sung at dawn. The singer is sad that they must part from their significant other.

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Ballad

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A poem (that is typically sung) telling a story. A very direct, narrative poem.

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Elision

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When the writers leave out a vowel at the end of a word. To keep the rhythm.

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Metonymy

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A figure of speech where a concept is defined by the name of some thing or object.

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Open Form

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A type of structure or pattern that a poet can chose to write in. It has no established pattern to the poem in all aspects ie: meter, rhyme, or stanza. The poet can write freely.

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Satire

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A kind of writing using irony, sarcasm, ridicule, etc. to point out and criticize humans and their wrongdoings. The ninja of criticizing.

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Synecdoche

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A figure of speech where a part is used to represent or is substituted for the whole and vice versa. Reflexive property.

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Rhythm

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In writing, mostly poetry (but is also included in good writing) when the author uses different "stress levels" or accents on different vowels in a line or verse. The pace at which the line is read with accents.

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Elegy

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A poem: mournful, sad, sorrowful, melancholy; usually about the dead.

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Epic poem

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A long narrative poem describing the journey of a hero and all they went through and experienced.

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Parody

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An imitation of an original work. Often humorous and mocking, but respected.

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Quatrain

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A stanza or poem with four lines. Usually associated with a rhyming pattern.

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Irony

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Saying something where the actual meaning is the opposite of what you are trying to convey. (verbal irony) Also for what is expected to happen and what really does happen (dramatic irony).