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...
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.
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania: Free Verse
This page provides a good working definition of free verse, along with some examples, information about its development, and mention of the poets who have made it popular.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Epigram
Wikipedia provides the definition of an epigram, including examples of epigrams by a number of poets.
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Ballad
The University of Victoria's English department gives a comprehensive definition of the "ballad" poetic form. Short examples included.
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Ode
The University of Victoria's English department gives a comprehensive definition of the "ode" poetic form. Short examples included.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Introduction to Poetry
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart teaches forms of poetry. It goes over a few key poetry definitions and then gives examples of a haiku and cinquain.
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill Online Learning Center: Glossary of Poetic Terms
This is an online glossary of poetry terms including a list of terms, definitions, and examples. It also provides links to other terms that are used in the definition.
Arizona State University
Alberto Rios, Arizona State U.: Glossary of Rhymes
This is a very extensive list of rhymes that "Occur frequently in discussions of poetry and critical writing, but not with absolute consistency." All have definitions, and many have examples. They are organized into five categories:...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Poetic Devices [Pdf]
This is a nine-page PDF on poetic devices; it includes four sections: The Sounds of Words, The Meanings of Words, Arranging the Words, and The Images of Words. Each section includes the poetic devices that fit the topic complete with...
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.
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Blank Verse
This brief site provides a definition of the term blank verse, a short description of its history, and an example of its use from a poem.
TES Global
Tes: Onomatopoeia: Poetic Devices Activity
[Free Registration/Login Required] This Power Point presentation provides thorough definitions and examples of onomatopoeia.
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Paradox
Definition of paradox with example from the poetry of John Donne and links to related terms such as oxymoron and metaphysical conceit.
Virtual Salt
Virtual Salt: A Glossary of Literary Terms
This site provides a long list of literary terms complete with full definitions and examples.
Washington State University
Washington State University: Epigram/epigraph/ Epitaph/epithet
This site gives a definition of the word "epigram." It also includes a few examples of epigrams.
Other
University of North Carolina: Glossary of Literary Terms
This site is provided for by the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Over forty literary terms defined by college students, each with thorough examples.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Epithet
This is a glossary entry for the term "Epithet" including definitions and examples from a number of poets.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Inversion
This is a glossary entry for the term "Inversion" including definition and literary examples.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Rhythm and Rhyme
This is a glossary entry for the terms "Rhythm" and Rhyme" including the definition of each and literary examples of each.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Can You Haiku?
Informative lesson for students concerning the writers, descriptions, and characteristics of the haiku. Also allows students to create their own original haiku.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Caesura
This is a glossary entry for the term "Caesura" including a definition and an example.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Negative Capability
This is a glossary entry for the term "Negative Capability" including the definition and a link to an example.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Rhyme Scheme
This is a glossary entry for the term "Rhyme Scheme" including a definition and an example.