Poetic Techniques

Question 1

Alliteration

Answer 1

The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. E.g: “Billy the bumble bee”.

Question 2

Sibilance

Answer 2

A specific type of alliteration that uses the repetition of soft consonant sounds in words, such as ‘s’, ‘sh’ or ‘z’, to create a wooshing, hushing or hissing sound in the writing. E.g: “The silken sad uncertain rustling…”.

Question 3

Assonance

Answer 3

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. E.g: “sonnet” and “porridge” (‘oh’ sound repeated) or “He’s a bruising loser” (‘oo’ sound repeated).

Question 4

Consonance

Answer 4

The repetition of similar-sounding consonants in close proximity (recurrent sounds can be located within or at the end of the word). E.g: “Cool soul” (l) or “Clickety clack” (k sound).

Question 5

Euphony

Answer 5

A harmonious succession of words having a pleasing sound. E.g: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” (Keats’ Autumn - also an example of sibilance).

Question 6

Cacophony

Answer 6

A harsh discordant mixture of sounds. E.g: “Rucked too thick for these men’s extrication” (this is also consonance on ‘ck/k’).

Question 7

Onomatopoeia

Answer 7

A word which mimics the sound it describes. E.g: Crack, gurgle, pop, bang, splash, roar, screech, splatter or splash.

Question 8

Plosive

Answer 8

A consonant sound that is produced by stopping the airflow using the lips, teeth, or palate, followed by a sudden release of air. are t, k, and p (voiceless) and d, g, and b (voiced).

Question 9

Sibilant

Answer 9

A letter which creates a hissing effect, for example s, sh and z.

Question 10

Aspirate

Answer 10

‘H’ sounds, through which we must breathe to create. Also, consonant sounds such as the p, t, and k at the beginning of words like “pat,” “top,” “keel” involve breath.

Question 11

Fricative

Answer 11

Denoting a type of consonant made by the friction of breath in a narrow opening, producing a turbulent air flow. For example, ‘‘f” and “th” sounds.

Question 12

Closed Form

Answer 12

Poetic form subject to a fixed structure and pattern.

Question 13

Open Form

Answer 13

Poetic form free from regularity and consistency in elements such as rhyme, line length and metrical form. (In contrast to CLOSED form).

Question 14

Free Verse

Answer 14

Lines with no prescribed pattern or structure.

Question 15

Heroic couplet

Answer 15

A rhyming pair of lines in iambic pentameter.

Question 16

Couplet

Answer 16

2 line stanza or section of a poem.

Question 17

Tercet

Answer 17

3 line stanza or section of a poem.

Question 18

Quatrain

Answer 18

4 line stanza or section of a poem.

Question 19

Quintet

Answer 19

5 line stanza or section of a poem.

Question 20

Sestet

Answer 20

6 line stanza or section of a poem.

Question 21

Septet

Answer 21

7 line stanza or section of a poem.

Question 22

Octave

Answer 22

8 line stanza or a section of a poem.

Question 23

Blank Verse

Answer 23

Unrhymed imabic pentameter. Frequently used by Shakespeare in the speeches of his noble characters, those with a higher social status.

Question 24

Sonnet

Answer 24

A 14-line poem with a variable rhyme scheme originating in Italy and brought to England by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, in the 16th century. Literally a “little song,” this poem traditionally reflects upon a single sentiment, with a clarification or “turn” of thought in its concluding lines. There are many different types.

Question 25

Shakespearean sonnet

Answer 25

A sonnet with the rhyme scheme ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG (alternating rhyme, followed by an heroic couplet). They are written in iambic pentameter.

Question 26

Italian or Petrarchan sonnet

Answer 26

A sonnet with the rhyme scheme ABBA, ABBA, CDE, CDE (or ending CDCDCD).

Question 27

Spenserian sonnet

Answer 27

A sonnet in which the quatrains are linked with a chain or interlocked rhyme scheme: ABAB, BCBC, CDCD, EE.

Question 28

Spenserian stanza

Answer 28

A stanza of the type used in Spenser’s poem The Faerie Queene, consisting of eight iambic pentameters and an alexandrine (a line of 12 syllables with major stresses on the 6th syllable and on the last syllable, and one secondary accent in each half line) with the rhyming scheme ababbcbcc.

Question 29

Villanelle

Answer 29

A nineteen-line poem with five tercets followed by a quatrain. There are two refrains and two repeating rhymes, with the first and third line of the first tercet repeated alternately until the last stanza, which includes both repeated lines.

Question 30

Refrain

Answer 30

A repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse.

Question 31

Lyric Poetry

Answer 31

Poetry that is, or supposedly is, susceptible of being sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument (in ancient times, usually a lyre), expressing intense personal emotion in a manner suggestive of a song (less like to tell a story, like narrative poetry does).

Question 32

Ballad

Answer 32

A narrative poem in rhythmic verse suitable for singing.

Question 33

Apostrophe

Answer 33

A term used when a speaker directly addresses someone or something that isn’t present in the poem. The speaker could be addressing an abstract concept like love, a person (dead or alive), a place, or even a thing, like the sun or the sea.

Question 34

Ode

Answer 34

A lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms. These usually include apostrophe (addressing an absent person, object or idea).