 | Term | Definition |
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Foot |
A measurable, patterned unit of poetic rhythm |
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Line |
A single line of words in a poem |
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Sonnet |
A lyric poem comprising 14 rhyming lines that has some sort of meter. Often dedicated to a lover. |
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Scan |
To find the number of feet, the unstressed and stressed syllables, and the type of meter. (I.E. Iambic, Trochaic, etc) |
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Meter |
Number of feet in a line. |
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Iambic |
A type of foot that uses one stressed and then one unstressed syllable. |
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Trochaic |
A type of foot that uses one unstressed and then one stressed syllable. |
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Hexameter |
A line with six feet. |
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Pentameter |
A line with 5 feet. |
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Tetrameter |
A line with 4 feet. |
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Rhyme Scheme |
A pattern of rhyme, labeled with letters. (ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG) |
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Italian Sonnet |
A sonnet that consists of an octave and a sestet |
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Octave |
The first part of an italian sonnet, consists of an ABBA ABBA rhyme scheme. Presents images and the building of a case. |
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Sestet |
Begins with a turn, then concludes the poem. The conclusion typically reveals the true meaning. Has a CDE CDE or CDC DCD rhyme scheme. |
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English Sonnet |
Consists of an ABAB CDCD EE rhyme scheme, with the EEs being the couplet, and the ABAB and CDCD as quatrains. |
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Couplet |
Pair of rhyming lines |
