Wacky Words
Repeating the same beginning sound in nearby words. Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck…”
Alliteration
The rhythm of a poem, based on the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Meter
The poet’s attitude/vibe/mood toward the poem’s speaker, reader, and subject matter, as interpreted by the reader.
Tone
A single row of words in a poem.
Line
The narrator of a poem
Speaker
Repetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry.
Assonance
*DAILY DOUBLE* Rhyming stanzas made up of two lines
Couplet
The ‘turn’ or shift in thought or emotion in a sonnet. It’s the moment when the poem changes direction—like going from a problem to a solution, or from a question to an answer.
Volta
A group of lines in a poem, like a paragraph in prose.
Stanza
The main idea or message of a poem or story. Example: Love, identity, freedom, loss.
Theme
A word that sounds like what it names
Onomatopeia
The basic units of meter in sonnets
Feet
Placing two contrasting ideas or images side by side to highlight their differences. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
Juxtaposition
A specific, vivid detail that appeals to the senses or facts. Example: “The red bike with a broken chain” instead of “a bike.”
Concrete Detail
A brief fictional narrative that still offers character and plot development in often under 1,000 words.
Flash Fiction
A story or poem written in the form of letters, diary entries, or messages
*DAILY DOUBLE* A stanza or poem with 4 lines, usually with alternate rhymes
Quatrain
Something that is strangely familiar yet unsettling or eerie. Example: A doll that looks almost human.
Uncanny
Language that uses the senses to create an image for the reader
Vivid Imagery
A single line of rap lyrics, often with a strong rhythm or rhyme.
Bar
A natural pause or break in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation.Example: “To be, or not to be — that is the question.”
Caesura
The pattern of rhyme between lines of poem.
A style that blends dreamlike, strange, or illogical elements with reality. Example: A poem where clocks melt or people float.
Surrealism
Repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the end or middle of words. Example: “pitter-patter,” “blank and think.”
Consonance
Using an object, person, or action to represent a deeper meaning. Example: A dove might represent peace.
Symbolism