narrative poetry
poem that tells a story
ballad
simple narrative poem imitating the language of a traditional song ballad
epic
long poem about the adventures of a hero
lyric poetry
poem expressing the emotions and thoughts of a single speaker
dramatic monologue
poem in which the speaker addresses a silent audience
elegy
mournful, contemplative lyric poem for someone who died
haiku
three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables presenting intense emotion of nature
ode
lengthy lyric poem expressing emotions, serios topic
idyll
poem extolling the virtues of an ideal place or time
sonnet
fixed poem of 14 lines
the italian or petrarchan sonnet
divided into an octave
the english or shakespearean sonnet
organized into three quatrains and a couplet with a typical rhyme scheme
volta
the turn in thought in a sonnet
aubade
poem or song of or about lovers separating at dawn
villanelle
fixed poem consisting of 19 lines
argumentative structure
poem engages in a debate or persuasive presentation
dramatic and colloquial mode of utterance
poem often describes a dramatic event
acute realism
psychological analysis, highly intellectual poetry
metaphysical wit
the poem contains unexpected, shocking analogies, parallels between dissimilar things
pastoral poetry
presenting the pleasures of rural life
didactic poetry
designed to teach an ethical, moral lesson
concrete poetry
punctuation marks, letters, or words are arranged to form picture
confessional poetry
poet reveals personal info
doggerel
derogatory term used to describe poetry whose sounds are monotone
blank verse
type of poetry with regular meter but no rhyme
free verse or open form
terms describing various styles of poetry lacking strict meter and rhyme
fixed form
poem categorized by the pattern of its lines, meter, rhythm, or stanzas
sestina
type of fixed poetry consisting of 36 lines of any length divided into 6 sesters and a 3 line concluding stanza
limerick
light, humorous poem of five lines
epigram
brief, pointed, and witty poem, strict and humorous point
epitaph
serious or humorous inscription on a tomb or tombstone
