Curated OER
A History of Poetry
What has rules and has no rules? What has rhythm and rhyme, and no rhythm or rhyme? What is arranged carefully and is scattered? Why, poetry, of course. Although text-heavy, this PowerPoint does provide a context for the study of poetry...
Other
Craft of Poetry: Couplet
Well detailed discussion of the use of the couplet in poetry. A number of different kinds of couplets are defined and explained (short couplet, split couplet, heroic couplet, Alexandrine couplet, Qasida), and a "How To" section suggests...
Other
Craft of Poetry: Quatrain
Site from a college poetry class that defines quatrain, gives some examples, and discusses some of the more popular [variations] as passed through tradition.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: The Poetics of Hip Hop
Students will analyze form in Shakespearean sonnets and hip-hop music. Concepts viewed in-depth include rhythm, form, diction, and sound. [Requires QuickTime 7].
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Literature: The Modern Poet: Poetry Terms
This is a poetry terms presentation which defines poetry terms.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Multi Media Poetry Notebook Project [Pdf]
This is a three-page PDF Multi--Media Poetry Notebook Project assignment with a rubric. Students will complete a virtual poetry notebook with three poems by different poets, two original poems, and a glossary of poetic terms. Students...
Hopelink
Hopelink: Writing Lesson Idea: Poetry Writing
Many simple forms, such as cinquain and haiku, that follow set formats, are included in this poetry lesson plan.
University of Pennsylvania
U Penn: Poetic Terms and Types
Click on these terms for an excellent definition of these poetic terms, some from the Oxford English Dictionary. Includes types of poetry as well as terms.
University of Oregon
University of Oregon: Cinquain Poems
Discover how to write a cinquain poem when you visit this resource. This site features a sample of a cinquain and directions to create your own. Come and check out how much fun poetry can be.
University of Oregon
University of Oregon: Diamante Poems
Do you know how to write a diamante poem? Check out this site to learn how to accomplish this task. This site features a lesson plan for writing poetry.
Vocabulary.com
Some Helpful Poetry Terms
This site contains a list of 24 poetry terms. Teachers can digitally assign this list to their students to reinforce the spellings, pronunciations, and meanings of these words
Other
Goucher College: A Glossary of Terms Essential to Describing Literature
An exhaustive list of literary terms and techniques with explanations that often include examples, prepared for a college-level survey course in English literature.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Stairway to Heaven Examining Metaphor in Popular Music
Contains plans for two lessons that ask students to make connections between literary texts and popular culture texts like song lyrics. After checking popular culture texts for literary elements, these elements are then examined in...
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Free Verse
A concise and thorough explanation of the term "free verse" in poetry. Provides a definition, differentiation from "blank verse," and an example from Walt Whitman.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The Heroic Couplet: Its Rhyme and Reason
Lengthy academic essay that argues that traditional poetry, including the heroic couplet, is still relevant in the modern world. While this is discussed, the history of the heroic couplet is provided. A good definition of the term with...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Lesson 3: Navigating Modernism With J. Alfred Prufrock
In this lesson plan, students will consider Lesson 3: Navigating Modernism with J. Alfred Prufrock. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: R. Frost's "Mending Wall":a Marriage of Poetic Form and Content
In this lesson plan, students will consider Robert Frost's "Mending Wall": A Marriage of Poetic Form and Content. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab.
Other
Poets' Graves: Glossary of Poetic Terms
A quite extensive glossary of poetic terms, using examples primarily from British poetry. Terms range from "abecedarian poem" to "zeugma" and very little is left out in between.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Glossary of Literary and Rhetorical Terms: Heroic Couplets
A short definition of the term Heroic Couplet along with a short example from a piece of poetry from Pope's Essay on Criticism.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Stanza
This is a glossary entry for "Stanza" including the definition of the term.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Iambic Pentameter
This encyclopedia entry for iambic pentameter provides examples of poetry and explanations of the meter's purpose.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Caesura
Encyclopedia article that defines and gives many examples of Caesura in poetry. Examples are taken from Latin, Old English, and Middle English poetry. Also defines different forms of Caesura (such as masculine caesura and feminine caesura).
Other
So You wanna.com: So You Wanna Learn About Poetic Form?
Discusses poetic form and the basic unit of form, the stanza. Also defines many related terms including couplet, triplet (tercets), quatrain, sesten (sestina), rhyme royal, ottava rima, Spenserian stanza, sonnet, and villanelle.
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Heroic Couplet
This site provides a short definition of the term Heroic Couplet along with a short example from a piece of poetry by Pope.