Poetry - Techniques

Question 1

Haiku

Answer 1

A Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven and five syllables. Haiku often reflect on some aspect of nature.

Question 2

Sonnet

Answer 2

(Petrarchan or Italian sonnet) A lyric poem of 14 lines. Usually divided into an octet and sestet with a Volta in between. Rhyme scheme: abba abba cdecde

Question 3

Ode

Answer 3

A lyric poem that is serious and thoughtful in tone and has a very precise, formal structure.

Question 4

Villanelle

Answer 4

A pastoral or lyrical poem of 19 lines, with only two rhymes throughout, and some lines repeated.

Question 5

Elegy

Answer 5

A poem written as a lament in memory of a person, place or way of life that has a melancholy tone but doesn’t follow any set metric pattern.

Question 6

Free verse

Answer 6

Poetry composed of either rhymed or unrhymed lines that have no set meter.

Question 7

Epigram

Answer 7

A very short, witty poem

Question 8

Blank verse

Answer 8

Poetry that is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. Shakespeare wrote most of his plays in blank verses.

Question 9

Narrative poem

Answer 9

A poem that tells a story or describes a series of events.

Question 10

Heroic couplets

Answer 10

A stanza composed of two rhymed lines in iambic pentameter.

Question 11

deixis

Answer 11

eg “there it was”, “here it is”, etc

Question 12

Neologism

Answer 12

making new words (eg cummings)

Question 13

Coinage

Answer 13

Making new words (eg cummings)