R&J Poetic Terms

What is the difference between a couplet and a heroic couplet?

• A couplet consists of two lines of poetry that rhyme, while a heroic couplet consists of two lines that rhyme and are written in iambic pentameter.

• A couplet is a stanza of four lines, while a heroic couplet is a stanza of two lines.

• A couplet is a type of poem that tells a story, while a heroic couplet is a poem that expresses a personal feeling.

• A couplet is always written in iambic pentameter, while a heroic couplet can be in any meter.

Iambic pentameter is...

• having five iambic feet (5 units of unstressed/stressed syllables) for a total of 10 syllables

• a poetic form with four stressed syllables per line

• a type of rhyme scheme used in sonnets

• a meter consisting of three iambic feet per line

What is a foot?

• A basic building block for meter; a unit in a meter

• A type of measurement used in cooking

• A part of the human body used for walking

• A unit of length equal to 12 inches

What is meter?

• A unit of measurement for length

• Rhythm in poetry; the pattern of beats (stressed and unstressed syllables) in lines of poetry

• A type of rhyme scheme used in poetry

• A literary device that involves exaggeration

What do we call the type of foot that includes one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable?

• an iamb

• a trochee

• an anapest

• a dactyl

What is a sonnet?

• A 14 line poem written in iambic pentameter that follows a strict rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG), ending in a heroic couplet

• A 12 line poem that explores a single theme without a specific rhyme scheme

• A 10 line poem that uses free verse and has no set structure

• A 16 line poem that tells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end

What do the u and / symbols mean?

• The u symbol stands for unstressed. The / symbol stands for stressed.

• The u symbol represents a vowel sound, while the / symbol represents a consonant sound.

• The u symbol indicates a long syllable, and the / symbol indicates a short syllable.

• The u symbol is used for indicating a pause, while the / symbol indicates a continuation.

What is prose?

• Language without poetic or rhythmic structure

• A type of poetry

• A form of dramatic writing

• A narrative with a rhythmic pattern