iamb
unstressed, stressed
troche
stressed, unstressed
Spondee
stressed, stressed
anapest
unstressed, unstressed, stressed
dactyl
stressed, unstressed, unstressed
couplet
two lines
tercet
three lines
quatrain
four lines
cinquain/quintain
five lines
sestet
six lines
septet
seven lines
octave
eight lines
caesura
a pause in the meter or rhythm of a line
enjambment
a run on line that continues into the text without a grammatical break. The opposite of an end-stopped line.
assonance
repetition of two or more vowels within a line
consonance
the repetition of consonant sounds within a line
euphony
the use of compatible, harmonious sounds to produce a pleasing, melodious effect.
cacophany
the use of inharmonious sounds in close conjunction for effect.
end rhyme
rhyme occurring at the end of verse line, most common form of rhyme.
internal rhyme
rhyme contained within a line of verse
masculine rhyme
rhyme in which only the last, accented syllable of the rhyming words correspond exactly in sound
feminine rhyme
rhyme in which two consecutive syllables of the rhyme-words correspond, the first syllable carrying the accent (ie. roses, posies)
slant rhyme
imperfect, approximate rhyme
free verse
poetry without a specific rhythm or rhyme scheme
blank verse
unrhymed iambic pentameter