Lesson 2.

Elements of
Poetry
 Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Recognize the structure, types, and other elements of poems.
● Examine the different styles and techniques in executing each
element of a poem.
● Interpret the connotative meanings in poetry.
Structure of Poetry
METER
VERSE
A unit of poetry that
The number of lines refers to the number of
within a stanza and syllables in a line. The
the number of number of syllables and
stanzas in a poem metrical foot within a
are known as the line is known as the
vertical measure. horizontal measure.
 Type of Meter Definition
Table 1. a two-syllable metrical foot that is
Common types of metrical iamb accented on the second. syllable (e.g.,
deSTROY, deLAY, eQUATE, etc.)
foot in English poetry
a three-syllable metrical foot that is
anapest accented on the third syllable (e.g.,
manneQUIN, promiNENT, merriLY, etc.)

a two-syllable metrical foot that is

trochee accented on the first syllable (e.g.,
GARden, HIGHway, TIger, etc.)

a three-syllable metrical foot that is

dactyl accented on the first syllable (e.g.,
Elephant, TYpical, HOSpital, etc.)
Metrical Foot Definition

monometer a one-foot line

Table 2.
Numbers of metrical
dimeter a two-feet line
feet within a line
trimeter a three-feet line

tetrameter a four-feet line

pentameter a five-feet line

hexameter a six-feet line

heptameter a seven-feet line

octameter an eight-feet line

 LINE BREAK

The exact point where the poet

decides to end one line in a poem
RHYME and start with another. There are
two types of line breaks: the end-
Words that have the same stopped line and the enjambment.
or approximately the same An end-stopped line is a line that
final sounds. A rhyme ends the sentence or the clause in
scheme or rhyme pattern a poem while an enjambment is a
is present if a set of line that has an incomplete
rhyming words are in the sentence or clause.
poem.
 LYRIC POETRY
Types of Poetry
Craven (2020) states that a
lyric poem is “a short, highly NARRATIVE
musical verse that conveys POETRY
powerful feelings” and that it
A type of poetry that DRAMATIC
“is a private expression of
tells a story. Ballads, POETRY
emotion by a single speaker”
metrical romances, and A type of emotional poetry
epics are some of the that is created to be spoken

types of narrative poetry. or acted. It tells a story, like

narrative poetry. Moreover, it
employs elements of
dramatic technique.
 Connotation in Poetry
Connotation is defined by Harmon and Holman (1996) as the
“emotional implications and associations that words may carry, as
distinguished from their denotative meanings”.
Three types of connotations
The first is private or personal, which is the product of someone’s
own life experiences.
The second is national, racial, or linguistic, which is understood by
a group of people.
The third is universal or general, which is known by all people.
 Forms of Poetry
1. According to Rhyme Scheme
Monorhyme (AAAA) Alternate Rhyme (ABAB) A

A type of poetry in which the lines in A type of poetry in which the lines in
a stanza end with words that have a stanza follow an alternating
the same final sounds. rhyming pattern.

Unbound or Ballad Double Couplet (AABB)

Quatrain (ABAC/ABCB).
A type of poetry that has four lines in
A type of poetry that has four lines,
which the first and the second lines
with varied rhyme schemes.
have terminal words with similar final
sounds.
 2. According to Length (Vertical Measure)

TERCET
COUPLET
A pair of successive A pair of successive
lines in poetry, or lines in poetry, or
poetry that has two poetry that has two
lines. lines.
QUATRAIN
A set of four lines in
a stanza, or a type of
poetry that has four
lines.
 2. According to Length (Vertical Measure)

OCTAVE
SESTET
QUINTET
A set of eight lines in
A set of five lines in A set of six lines in a a stanza, or a type of
a stanza, or a type of stanza, or a type of poetry that has eight
poetry that has five poetry that has six lines.
lines. lines.
 3. The Traditional Forms of Poetry

Ballad Haiku
A “fun, short Japanese form
A type of poetry that consisting of three lines with a
narrates a story. syllable count of 5-7-5”
(Moustaki 2001, 181).

Sestina Sonnet.
A type of poetry that has fourteen lines. Three
A type of poetry that consists of six
types of sonnets are popular. Shakespearean
stanzas followed by an envoi, or a
sonnet (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG), Spenserian
short concluding stanza.
sonnet (ABAB BCBC CDCD EE), and
Petrarchan sonnet ( ABBAABBA CDEEDC).
 3. The Traditional Forms of Poetry
Limerick
A five-line poetry that is usually amusing
and cheeky. It follows the AABBA
rhyming pattern. Lines 1, 2, and 5 should
have seven to ten syllables and a similar
poetic meter. Lines 3 and 4 should have
five to seven syllables and a similar
poetic meter, too.
Terza Rima
it is a type of poetry that is composed of
a set of interdependent tercets. the
rhyming pattern of a terza rima is ABA
BCB CDC DED and so on and so forth.
Villanelle
A type of poetry that is composed of
five stanzas, each having three lines,
followed by a sixth stanza that contains
four lines.
 5. FREE VERSE
4. BLANK VERSE

A type of unconventional A type of

poem that consists of lines unconventional poem
that do not rhyme with each
that is free of rhyme
other. However, it follows a
definite meter. Usually, blank and meter.
verses conform with the
rules of the iambic
pentameter.
Thank You
SEE YOU NEXT TIME