epithalamium A poem celebrating a wedding: nuptial or hymeneal verse. No specific formal requirements. Much the same as A poem celebrating a wedding: nuptial or hymeneal verse. No specific formal requirements. Much the same as prothalamium prothalamium to be honest. to be honest.

epode The third part of the The third part of the Pindaric Ode Pindaric Ode's triad. Called by Jonson the stand stand.

esemplastic Rather fine word coined by Coleridge to describe an unlike imaginative union of two qualities or things. Rather fine word coined by Coleridge to describe an unlike imaginative union of two qualities or things.

expletive A word or words used to fill the metrical requirements of a line. The iambic pentameter 'He thus did sit him down upon the rock', is saying no more than 'he sat on the rock', the other five words are expletives. A word or words used to fill the metrical requirements of a line. The iambic pentameter 'He thus did sit him down upon the rock', is saying no more than 'he sat on the rock', the other five words are expletives.

fabliau A (sometimes comic) tale, originally medieval French, now applied to any short moral fable in verse or prose. A (sometimes comic) tale, originally medieval French, now applied to any short moral fable in verse or prose.

falling rhythm Metre whose primary movement is from stressed to unstressed, dactylic and trochaic verse, for example. Metre whose primary movement is from stressed to unstressed, dactylic and trochaic verse, for example.

false friend Word or phrase whose meaning is confused with other words or phrases (often from another language) which sound similar. 'To meld' is used often to mean to 'fuse' or 'unite' through false friendship with 'melt' and 'weld'it actually means 'to announce'. Similarly 'w.i.l.l.y-nilly' is used to mean 'all over the place' where in reality it means 'whether you like it or not', i.e. 'willing or unwilling'. Only sad pedants like me care about these misuses which are now common enough to be almost correct. Word or phrase whose meaning is confused with other words or phrases (often from another language) which sound similar. 'To meld' is used often to mean to 'fuse' or 'unite' through false friendship with 'melt' and 'weld'it actually means 'to announce'. Similarly 'w.i.l.l.y-nilly' is used to mean 'all over the place' where in reality it means 'whether you like it or not', i.e. 'willing or unwilling'. Only sad pedants like me care about these misuses which are now common enough to be almost correct.

feedback See See loop loop.

feminine ending An unstressed ending added to an iamb, anapaest or other usually rising foot. An unstressed ending added to an iamb, anapaest or other usually rising foot. Hanging Hanging, waiter waiter, television television etc. etc.

feminine rhyme The rhyming of feminine-ended words. The rhyme is always on the last stressed syllable. Rhymes for the above could be The rhyming of feminine-ended words. The rhyme is always on the last stressed syllable. Rhymes for the above could be banging banging, later later, derision derision.

fescennine Indecent or scurrilous verse. Indecent or scurrilous verse.

filidh An Irish bard. An Irish bard.

foot A metrical division: five feet to a A metrical division: five feet to a pentameter pentameter, four to a tetrameter tetrameter etc. etc.

fourteeners Iambic heptameter. Seven iambs make fourteen syllables. Iambic heptameter. Seven iambs make fourteen syllables.

free verse Verse that follows no conventional form, rhyming scheme or metrical pattern. Verse that follows no conventional form, rhyming scheme or metrical pattern.

ghazal Middle Eastern couplet form following special rules as described in Chapter Three. Middle Eastern couplet form following special rules as described in Chapter Three.

gematri-a, -ic (Originally Kabbalistic) a.s.signation of numerical value to lettersas in (Originally Kabbalistic) a.s.signation of numerical value to lettersas in chronogram chronogram q.v. q.v.

glyconic Latin style of verse usu. with three trochees and a dactyl. Latin style of verse usu. with three trochees and a dactyl.

haijin A A haiku haiku pract.i.tioner. pract.i.tioner.

haikai (no renga) The ancestor of The ancestor of haiku haiku. Playful linked j.a.panese verse developed from the waka waka in the sixteenth century. in the sixteenth century.

haiku Three-line verses (in English at least) with a syllable count of 5-7-5 and adhering to certain thematic principles. Three-line verses (in English at least) with a syllable count of 5-7-5 and adhering to certain thematic principles.

hemistich A half-line of verse: the term is most often found in reference to Anglo-Saxon and Middle English poetry. A half-line of verse: the term is most often found in reference to Anglo-Saxon and Middle English poetry.

hendecasyllabic Composed of eleven syllables. Composed of eleven syllables.

hendiadys Lit. 'one through two': a trope where a single idea is expressed by two nouns where usually it would be a qualified or modified noun: 'nice and warm' for 'nicely warm', 'sound and fury' for 'furious sound'. Also phrase where 'and' replaces infinitive 'to' as in 'try and behave' for 'try to behave'. Lit. 'one through two': a trope where a single idea is expressed by two nouns where usually it would be a qualified or modified noun: 'nice and warm' for 'nicely warm', 'sound and fury' for 'furious sound'. Also phrase where 'and' replaces infinitive 'to' as in 'try and behave' for 'try to behave'.

heptameter A line of verse in seven metrical feet. A line of verse in seven metrical feet. Fourteeners Fourteeners, for example.

heroic couplets Rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter. Rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter.

heroic line Iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter.

heroic verse Poetry cast in heroic couplets. Poetry cast in heroic couplets.

hexameter A line of verse in six metrical feet. A line of verse in six metrical feet.

hokku The opening verse of The opening verse of haikai haikai, from which the haiku haiku is descended. is descended.

homeoteleuton Repet.i.tion of words ending in like syllables: e.g. 'readable intelligible syllables are horrible', 'a little fiddle in a pickle' etc. Repet.i.tion of words ending in like syllables: e.g. 'readable intelligible syllables are horrible', 'a little fiddle in a pickle' etc.

h.o.m.ostrophic Arrangement of identically structured stanzas, esp. as in Arrangement of identically structured stanzas, esp. as in Horatian Horatian and other ode forms. and other ode forms.

Horatian Ode Ode in the manner of the Roman poet Horace, adopted, adapted, translated and imitated in English verse esp. in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Ode in the manner of the Roman poet Horace, adopted, adapted, translated and imitated in English verse esp. in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Hudibrastic Used to describe the kind of tortured polysyllabic rhyming found in Samuel Butler's mock-epic Used to describe the kind of tortured polysyllabic rhyming found in Samuel Butler's mock-epic Hudibras Hudibras.

hypermetric A line with an extra syllable. Technically, a hendecasyllabic line of pentameter is hypermetric. A line with an extra syllable. Technically, a hendecasyllabic line of pentameter is hypermetric.

hypermonosyllabic Optional Optional synaeresis synaeresis q.v. A word that can be sounded with either one or two syllables, i.e. 'real', 'flower' and 'liar' (can be said as 'reel', 'flour' and 'lyre'). q.v. A word that can be sounded with either one or two syllables, i.e. 'real', 'flower' and 'liar' (can be said as 'reel', 'flour' and 'lyre').

ictus The unit of stress within a foot. The second element in an The unit of stress within a foot. The second element in an iamb iamb, the first in a trochee trochee, the third in an anapaest anapaest etc. etc.

idyll A short pictorial poem, chiefly lyrical or pastoral: 'idyllic' is often now used to mean 'ideal' and 'perfect'. A short pictorial poem, chiefly lyrical or pastoral: 'idyllic' is often now used to mean 'ideal' and 'perfect'.

internal rhyme Oh for heaven's sake it's obvious, isn't it? Oh for heaven's sake it's obvious, isn't it? inversion inversion Reversal of usual sentence structure. 'Happy am I', etc. Reversal of usual sentence structure. 'Happy am I', etc.

jeu d'esprit Merry word play or similar gamesome larkiness. Merry word play or similar gamesome larkiness.

kenning A Norse and Anglo-Saxon metaphorical or metonymic yoking of words, such as 'whale road' for sea. A Norse and Anglo-Saxon metaphorical or metonymic yoking of words, such as 'whale road' for sea.

kigo The 'season word' placed in a The 'season word' placed in a haiku haiku to tell the reader in which time of year the verse is set. to tell the reader in which time of year the verse is set.

tomato A red savoury fruit sometimes known as a love-apple which has a place in many sauces and salads but none whatever in a glossary of poetical terms. Especially when it has not been inserted in the correct alphabetical order. A red savoury fruit sometimes known as a love-apple which has a place in many sauces and salads but none whatever in a glossary of poetical terms. Especially when it has not been inserted in the correct alphabetical order.

kireji The caesura that should occur in the first or second line of a The caesura that should occur in the first or second line of a haiku haiku.

kyrielle A A refrain refrain verse form descended from an element of Catholic ma.s.s. verse form descended from an element of Catholic ma.s.s.

lay Narrative poem or short song. Narrative poem or short song.

leonine rhyme Internal rhyming in verse of long measure where the word preceding the caesura rhymes with the end-word. Internal rhyming in verse of long measure where the word preceding the caesura rhymes with the end-word.

limerick You know perfectly well. You know perfectly well.

lineation The arrangement of lines in a poem, how they break and how their length is ordered. Prescribed in metrical verse but at the poet's discretion in free verse. See The arrangement of lines in a poem, how they break and how their length is ordered. Prescribed in metrical verse but at the poet's discretion in free verse. See stichic stichic.

lipograms Verse or writing where for some reason best known to himself the poet has decided to omit one letter throughout. As I have unquestionably done with the letter q here. d.a.m.n. Verse or writing where for some reason best known to himself the poet has decided to omit one letter throughout. As I have unquestionably done with the letter q here. d.a.m.n.

litotes Understatement for comic effect, often cast in negatives to indicate a positive: 'a not unsatisfactory state of affairs' for 'a splendid outcome' etc. Same as Understatement for comic effect, often cast in negatives to indicate a positive: 'a not unsatisfactory state of affairs' for 'a splendid outcome' etc. Same as meiosis meiosis q.v. q.v.

loop See See feedback feedback.

luc bat A Vietnamese form described in Chapter Three. A Vietnamese form described in Chapter Three.

lyric ode An open form of rhymed, stanzaic verse, usually in iambic pentameter, descended as much from the An open form of rhymed, stanzaic verse, usually in iambic pentameter, descended as much from the sonnet sonnet as from the as from the Horatian Ode Horatian Ode. Used to describe the odes of Keats and other romantic poets.

majuscule Capital letters. Upper Case. Capital letters. Upper Case.

masculine ending A stressed word end. A stressed word end.

masculine rhyme The rhyming of same. The rhyming of same.

meiosis Cell division to a biologist, understatement to a grammarian. Often comical. See Cell division to a biologist, understatement to a grammarian. Often comical. See litotes litotes.

melon Sweet pleasant fruit. What possible reason can it have for being in this glossary? Andrew Marvell stumbled on them as he pa.s.sed, but otherwise they have no business being here. Please ignore this entry. Sweet pleasant fruit. What possible reason can it have for being in this glossary? Andrew Marvell stumbled on them as he pa.s.sed, but otherwise they have no business being here. Please ignore this entry.

melopoeia Word coined by Ezra Pound to describe the overall soundscape of a poem. Word coined by Ezra Pound to describe the overall soundscape of a poem.

mesostich Halfway point of a lineused to apply to acrostics that descend therefrom. Halfway point of a lineused to apply to acrostics that descend therefrom.

metaphor Figurative use of a word or phrase to describe something to which it is not literally applicable. 'The ship ploughed through the waves', 'Juliet is the sun', 'there's April in her eyes' etc. Figurative use of a word or phrase to describe something to which it is not literally applicable. 'The ship ploughed through the waves', 'Juliet is the sun', 'there's April in her eyes' etc.

metonym A metaphoric trope in which a word or phrase is used to stand in for what it represents: 'the bottle' is a metonym for 'drinking', 'the stage' for 'theatrical life', 'Whitehall' for the civil service etc. A metaphoric trope in which a word or phrase is used to stand in for what it represents: 'the bottle' is a metonym for 'drinking', 'the stage' for 'theatrical life', 'Whitehall' for the civil service etc. Kennings Kennings q.v. and q.v. and synecdoche synecdoche are often metonymic. are often metonymic.

minuscule non capital letters. lower case. non capital letters. lower case.

molossus A ternary foot of three long, or stressed, units. 'Short sharp shock', etc. A ternary foot of three long, or stressed, units. 'Short sharp shock', etc.

monody Ode or dirge sung or declaimed by a single individual. Ode or dirge sung or declaimed by a single individual.

monometer A metric line of one foot. A metric line of one foot.

monosyllable Let me say this in words of one sill ab uhl. Let me say this in words of one sill ab uhl.

mora From Lat. for 'delay'. In syllable-timed languages the duration of one short syllable. Two From Lat. for 'delay'. In syllable-timed languages the duration of one short syllable. Two morae morae make a long syllable. Equivalent of crotchet and minim in music. make a long syllable. Equivalent of crotchet and minim in music.

Muses Nine multi-domiciled girls (the daughters of Nine multi-domiciled girls (the daughters of Mnemosyne Mnemosyne or Memory) who shuttle between Pieria, Parna.s.sus and Mount Helicon and give poets and others inspiration. or Memory) who shuttle between Pieria, Parna.s.sus and Mount Helicon and give poets and others inspiration. Erato Erato helps us with our Love Poetry, helps us with our Love Poetry, Calliope Calliope with our epics, with our epics, Melpomene Melpomene with our tragedies, with our tragedies, Polyhymnia Polyhymnia is good for sacred verse and is good for sacred verse and Thalia Thalia for comedy. For non-poets for comedy. For non-poets Clio Clio looks after History and looks after History and Renault Renault motor cars, motor cars, Euterpe Euterpe is in charge of music, is in charge of music, Terpsich.o.r.e Terpsich.o.r.e is the dance mistress and is the dance mistress and Urania Urania teaches astronomy. teaches astronomy.

near rhyme Echoic devices such as Echoic devices such as a.s.sonance a.s.sonance, consonance consonance and and homeoteleuton homeoteleuton q.q.v q.q.v negative capability Keats's phrase (used in a letter of 1818 and referring to Shakespeare after being inspired by Kean's performance as Richard III) 'when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason'. A phrase now used to describe the poetic ability to efface self and take on the qualities being described. Keats's phrase (used in a letter of 1818 and referring to Shakespeare after being inspired by Kean's performance as Richard III) 'when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason'. A phrase now used to describe the poetic ability to efface self and take on the qualities being described.

nonce word A word coined for use on one occasion: A word coined for use on one occasion: not not a nonsense wordthat would be a false friend q.v. a nonsense wordthat would be a false friend q.v.

nonet No, no. Silly verse form of ascending or diminishing syllabic count. No, no. Silly verse form of ascending or diminishing syllabic count.

numbers A now archaic word for lines of verse. A now archaic word for lines of verse.

objective correlative Phrase coined by T. S. Eliot in a 1919 essay on Phrase coined by T. S. Eliot in a 1919 essay on Hamlet Hamlet to refer to the context of an emotion, the pattern of events, diction etc. leading to an emotional response. Now often used to mean the poet's intended emotional effect. Eliot felt that to refer to the context of an emotion, the pattern of events, diction etc. leading to an emotional response. Now often used to mean the poet's intended emotional effect. Eliot felt that Hamlet Hamlet lacked an o. c. lacked an o. c.

octameter A metric line of eight feet. A metric line of eight feet.

octave The first eight lines of a (usually Petrarchan or Petrarchan variant) sonnet. The first eight lines of a (usually Petrarchan or Petrarchan variant) sonnet.

ode Verse form on one theme, now usually applied to lyric poems. Verse form on one theme, now usually applied to lyric poems.

Old English Anglo-Saxon (approx. fifthtwelfth century). Applies to four-stress hemistichal alliterative accentual verse, e.g. Anglo-Saxon (approx. fifthtwelfth century). Applies to four-stress hemistichal alliterative accentual verse, e.g. Beowulf Beowulf.

onomatopoei-a, -ic Of words whose sounds imitate their meaning: e.g. 'click', 'hiss', 'susurration' etc. Of words whose sounds imitate their meaning: e.g. 'click', 'hiss', 'susurration' etc.

open form Metrical rhymed verse where issues like the number of stanzas are not fixed, but up to the poet. Metrical rhymed verse where issues like the number of stanzas are not fixed, but up to the poet.

ottava rima An open form of eight-line verse rhyming An open form of eight-line verse rhyming abababcc abababcc. Byron's Don Juan Don Juan, late Yeats etc.

oxymoron Lit. 'sharp blunt' a contradictory phrase: as in Lit. 'sharp blunt' a contradictory phrase: as in Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet's 'O loving hate! O heavy lightness!', or a paradoxical phrase such as 'eloquent silence', 'living death' or 'military intelligence' (ho-ho).

paean A song of praise, encomium. A song of praise, encomium.

palilogy Repet.i.tionwhat a lot of words for it there are. Repet.i.tionwhat a lot of words for it there are.

panegyric Writing in praise of a character's specific qualities or achievements. Writing in praise of a character's specific qualities or achievements.

pantoum Malayan closed form with refrained lines. See Chapter Three. Malayan closed form with refrained lines. See Chapter Three.

paragram To hide a name or word inside text. 'A cut and pa To hide a name or word inside text. 'A cut and paSTEPHENomenon', or' S Sui T TablE Poetic H HiddEN word'. word'.

paralepsis To say something while pretending not to: 'I shall not mention his appalling table manners' etc. To say something while pretending not to: 'I shall not mention his appalling table manners' etc.

para-rhyme Partial rhyme, a.s.sonance or consonance rhyming, for example, Partial rhyme, a.s.sonance or consonance rhyming, for example, head/bet, foul/stout, feel/full head/bet, foul/stout, feel/full. Also called slant-rhyme slant-rhyme or or off-rhyme off-rhyme.

parody Imitation of the style of another. Imitation of the style of another.

paronomasia Wordplay, punning. Wordplay, punning.

particle Small word like a conjunction (and, or, but), preposition (for, of, with, by), p.r.o.noun (they, his, me, who, that) and so on. Small word like a conjunction (and, or, but), preposition (for, of, with, by), p.r.o.noun (they, his, me, who, that) and so on.

pathetic fallacy John Ruskin's term for the romantic attribution of life and a soul to inanimate objects or principles, Nature esp. John Ruskin's term for the romantic attribution of life and a soul to inanimate objects or principles, Nature esp.

pattern poem A poem whose physical shape on the page represents an object of some kind. Same as shaped poetry. A poem whose physical shape on the page represents an object of some kind. Same as shaped poetry.

pentameter A metrical line of five feet. A metrical line of five feet.

periphrasis A roundabout way of speaking, circ.u.mlocution. A roundabout way of speaking, circ.u.mlocution.

Petrarchan sonnet A sonnet form adapted from Petrarch's original cycle of poems to his Laura: the octave rhymes A sonnet form adapted from Petrarch's original cycle of poems to his Laura: the octave rhymes abba abba abba abba and the sestet in English can be anything from the original and the sestet in English can be anything from the original cdecde cdecde to to cdcdcd cdcdcd, cdcdee cdcdee and other variations. and other variations.

phaleucian A Greek metre consisting of a spondee, dactyl and three trochees. A Greek metre consisting of a spondee, dactyl and three trochees.

phanopoeia Name Pound gave to Imagism in actiona revelatory or reified image. Name Pound gave to Imagism in actiona revelatory or reified image.