phoneme Base unit of sound. Base unit of sound.
Pindaric Ode From the Greek poet Pindar; celebratory or praise songs that developed into formal From the Greek poet Pindar; celebratory or praise songs that developed into formal triadic triadic odes in English. odes in English.
pleonasm Tautology, use of redundant words, unnecessary repetitionas in this entry. Not to be confused with 'neoplasm' which means a morbid new growth or tissue. Tautology, use of redundant words, unnecessary repetitionas in this entry. Not to be confused with 'neoplasm' which means a morbid new growth or tissue.
poesie, poesy Now poncey word for poetry. Now poncey word for poetry.
polyptoton Repetition of the same word, but using different endings and inflexions e.g. 'It's socially unacceptable in society to socialise with an unsociable socialist' etc. Repetition of the same word, but using different endings and inflexions e.g. 'It's socially unacceptable in society to socialise with an unsociable socialist' etc.
prosody The art of versification: the very subject of this magnificent little book. The art of versification: the very subject of this magnificent little book.
prothalamium An An epithalamium epithalamium, specifically one to be recited before entry into the bridal chamber (Spenser).
pyrrhic A binary foot of two unstressed units. A binary foot of two unstressed units.
quantitative Of quantity. A word's quantity is the sum of its vowel lengths. In quantitative verse, feet are not elements of stress but of sound duration ( Of quantity. A word's quantity is the sum of its vowel lengths. In quantitative verse, feet are not elements of stress but of sound duration (morae q.v.). 'Smooth' is long, 'moth' is short and so on. The stuff of classical verse, quantitative poetry was never much more than an experiment in the stress-timed English language. Longfellow's q.v.). 'Smooth' is long, 'moth' is short and so on. The stuff of classical verse, quantitative poetry was never much more than an experiment in the stress-timed English language. Longfellow's Evangeline Evangeline and Southey's dactylic hexameters remain possibly the best-known examples. and Southey's dactylic hexameters remain possibly the best-known examples.
Quarterly Review Tory magazine begun in 1809. Shelley held a 'homicidal article' in it responsible for Keats's early demise: 'Who killed John Keats? I, said the Quarterly, So savage and Tartarly, 'Twas one of my feats.' Byron adapted S's squib in Tory magazine begun in 1809. Shelley held a 'homicidal article' in it responsible for Keats's early demise: 'Who killed John Keats? I, said the Quarterly, So savage and Tartarly, 'Twas one of my feats.' Byron adapted S's squib in Don Juan Don Juan (but see under (but see under Cockney School Cockney School).
quaternary Divided into four: in prosody this refers to metrical feet that have four units, such as the choriamb and the antispast. Divided into four: in prosody this refers to metrical feet that have four units, such as the choriamb and the antispast.
quatorzain Name given to a fourteen-line poem that is not considered by the prosodist or critic using the term to be a 'true' sonnet. A subjective matter, to be honest. Name given to a fourteen-line poem that is not considered by the prosodist or critic using the term to be a 'true' sonnet. A subjective matter, to be honest.
quatrain A four-line stanza. A four-line stanza.
quintain A five-line stanza, or A five-line stanza, or cinquain cinquain.
q.v. From Latin From Latin quod vide quod vide meaning 'which see' or 'take a look at that one', used in fancy glossaries like this to follow a word in the body of a definition which has its own meaning 'which see' or 'take a look at that one', used in fancy glossaries like this to follow a word in the body of a definition which has its own entry entry q.v. q.v.
rann A quatrain in Irish verse. A quatrain in Irish verse.
redondilla Spanish verse cast in octosyllables. Spanish verse cast in octosyllables.
refrain Line repeated at set intervals within a song or poem. Line repeated at set intervals within a song or poem.
reify, reification To concretise the abstract, to embody an idea. To concretise the abstract, to embody an idea.
rentrement Refrain Refrain, burden or single-lined chorus.
repetend Any word or phrase that is (to be) repeated. Any word or phrase that is (to be) repeated.
rhadif The The refrain refrain line of a line of a ghazal ghazal.
rhapsody The sung part of an epic or saga. Applied to moments of lyricism in otherwise non-lyric verse, i.e. the 'Isles of Greece' section in Byron's The sung part of an epic or saga. Applied to moments of lyricism in otherwise non-lyric verse, i.e. the 'Isles of Greece' section in Byron's Don Juan. Don Juan.
rhopalic Progression of words whereby each word is longer by one syllable than its predecessor. Progression of words whereby each word is longer by one syllable than its predecessor.
rhopalics Too silly to bother with. Too silly to bother with.
rhyme royal, rime royal An open stanza form following the scheme An open stanza form following the scheme ababbcc ababbcc. Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde Troilus and Criseyde and Auden's 'Letter to Lord Byron' are written in this form. and Auden's 'Letter to Lord Byron' are written in this form.
rhyme-scheme The pattern of rhyming in a stanza or passage of verse, The pattern of rhyming in a stanza or passage of verse, abba abab, aa abba abab, aa etc represent various examples of r. s. etc represent various examples of r. s.
rich rhyme The rhyming of words that either look and sound the same but have a different meaning ( The rhyming of words that either look and sound the same but have a different meaning (homonyms), 'the sound sound is very is very sound', or sound', or words that sound the same but look different, ( words that sound the same but look different, (homophones) like blue/blew blue/blew or or praise/preys, >or praise/preys, >or words that look the same but sound different, 'he wore a words that look the same but sound different, 'he wore a bow bow and made a and made a bow bow to the audience' etc. to the audience' etc.
rictameter See See rhopalics. rhopalics.
rime en kyrielle Used to describe any Used to describe any rentrement rentrement q.v. or poetic refrain. q.v. or poetic refrain.
rime retournee Backwards rhyme, but of Backwards rhyme, but of sound sound not spelling: i.e. not not spelling: i.e. not emit emit and and time, Eros and sore time, Eros and sore but but mite mite or or might might and and time, Eros time, Eros and and sorry sorry etc. etc.
rising rhythm Metre whose primary movement is from unstressed to stressed, iambs and anapaests for example. Metre whose primary movement is from unstressed to stressed, iambs and anapaests for example.
rondeau Closed French form with various English guises. Closed French form with various English guises. R-aabba aabR aabbaR R-aabba aabR aabbaR seems to be the most common form, where seems to be the most common form, where R R is the first half of the opening line. 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrea is a well-known example of this kind of is the first half of the opening line. 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrea is a well-known example of this kind of r r.
rondeau redouble Variation of Variation of rondeau rondeau q.v. where the last lines of each stanza become refrain lines for the following stanzas. See the 'More Closed French Forms' section of Chapter Three. q.v. where the last lines of each stanza become refrain lines for the following stanzas. See the 'More Closed French Forms' section of Chapter Three.
rondel Another French Another French rentrement rentrement form. Check it out in Chapter Three, as above. form. Check it out in Chapter Three, as above.
rondel prime Ditto basically. Ditto basically.
rondelet And again. And again.
rondine The name of Shiraz's sister in The name of Shiraz's sister in Footballer's Wives Footballer's Wives. No, but shush at once.
roundel Swinburne's name for his adaptation of one or other of the French letter-R forms. Swinburne's name for his adaptation of one or other of the French letter-R forms.
roundelay Refrained verse of some bloody kind. Refrained verse of some bloody kind.
Rubai, ruba'iat, ruba'iyat At last, sense. At last, sense. Quatrain Quatrain verse of Persian origin, rhyming verse of Persian origin, rhyming aaba aaba, ccdc ccdc etc. etc.
salad Summery vegetable assemblage not to be confused with Summery vegetable assemblage not to be confused with ballad ballad or or ballade ballade q.v. Often contains q.v. Often contains tomatoes tomatoes q.v. q.v.
Sapphic metre In classical verse, a hendecasyllabic line composed of a In classical verse, a hendecasyllabic line composed of a trochee trochee, an anceps anceps, a dactyl dactyl, a trochee trochee and a and a spondee spondee.
Sapphic Ode A stanza of three lines in Sapphic metre as above, followed by an Adonic line. The English stress-based adaptation as seen in Pope and others is usually in iambic pentameter or tetrameter with an iambic dimeter instead of a true Adonic. A stanza of three lines in Sapphic metre as above, followed by an Adonic line. The English stress-based adaptation as seen in Pope and others is usually in iambic pentameter or tetrameter with an iambic dimeter instead of a true Adonic.
Satanic School Southey's petulant name for poets like Byron, Shelley and Leigh Hunt who were better than he was and had more integrity. Southey's petulant name for poets like Byron, Shelley and Leigh Hunt who were better than he was and had more integrity.
scazon Substitution of a ternary foot for a binary. See Substitution of a ternary foot for a binary. See choliamb choliamb.
schwa The phonetic character The phonetic character that stands for a scudded that stands for a scudded uh uh sound, as in the weak vowel sounds in words like act sound, as in the weak vowel sounds in words like act and comm and commn and gramm.
scop Old English or Nordic storyteller, bard or poet. Old English or Nordic storyteller, bard or poet.
Scriblerus, Martin Group pseudonym under which satirical verses were published in the eighteenth century. Prominent members included Swift and Pope. Also known as the Scriblerus Club. Group pseudonym under which satirical verses were published in the eighteenth century. Prominent members included Swift and Pope. Also known as the Scriblerus Club.
scud To skip lightly over a syllable imparting no stress. To skip lightly over a syllable imparting no stress.
sdrucciolo Cool word for Cool word for triple-rhyme triple-rhyme.
semantics The study of linguistic meaning. The study of linguistic meaning.
semeion A basic metrical unit, either stressed or unstressed. A basic metrical unit, either stressed or unstressed.
semiotics, semiology The study of linguistic (and by extension social, cultural etc.) signs. The base study in structuralism, formalism, Saussurian linguistics, Levi-Strauss-style social anthropology etc. The study of linguistic (and by extension social, cultural etc.) signs. The base study in structuralism, formalism, Saussurian linguistics, Levi-Strauss-style social anthropology etc.
senryu, senriu A A haiku haiku that is more about people than nature. that is more about people than nature.
septain A stanza of seven lines. A stanza of seven lines.
sestet A stanza of six lines; also the final six lines of a (usually) Petrarchan sonnet. A stanza of six lines; also the final six lines of a (usually) Petrarchan sonnet.
sestina A closed verse form in six stanzas and an envoi determined by rules of some complexity. See the section devoted to it in Chapter Three. A closed verse form in six stanzas and an envoi determined by rules of some complexity. See the section devoted to it in Chapter Three.
Shakespearean sonnet The native English sonnet form adapted by Drayton, Sidney and others which found its apotheosis at the hands of Will. It rhymes The native English sonnet form adapted by Drayton, Sidney and others which found its apotheosis at the hands of Will. It rhymes abab cdcd efef gg abab cdcd efef gg.
shaped poem See See pattern pattern poems. poems.
shasei The 'sketch of nature' that a The 'sketch of nature' that a haiku haiku is supposed to render. is supposed to render.
Skeltonics Merry, rather clumsy subversive and scurrilous irregular verses, named after John S. (fifteenthsixteenth-century English poet). Sometimes called Merry, rather clumsy subversive and scurrilous irregular verses, named after John S. (fifteenthsixteenth-century English poet). Sometimes called tumbling tumbling verse. verse.
slam Originally Chicagoan poetry contests or public recitals of verse held as entertainment events. Originally Chicagoan poetry contests or public recitals of verse held as entertainment events.
slant-rhyme See See partial partial rhyme. rhyme.
song that luc bat A version of A version of luc bat luc bat.
sonnet A poem of fourteen lines, usually following a particular scheme, e.g. Petrarchan, Shakespearean, Spenserian or variations thereof. A poem of fourteen lines, usually following a particular scheme, e.g. Petrarchan, Shakespearean, Spenserian or variations thereof.
sonnet of sonnets A sequence of fourteen sonnets. A sequence of fourteen sonnets.
sonnet redouble A fifteen-poem A fifteen-poem corona corona sequence in which the fifteenth is made of the last lines of the previous fourteen. Something to do between lunch and tea. sequence in which the fifteenth is made of the last lines of the previous fourteen. Something to do between lunch and tea.
Spenserian sonnet Close to Shakespearean s., but with vestigial Petrarchan internal couplets: Close to Shakespearean s., but with vestigial Petrarchan internal couplets: abab bcbc cdcd ee. abab bcbc cdcd ee.
Spenserian stanza An open stanzaic form in iambic pentameter developed by Spenser for An open stanzaic form in iambic pentameter developed by Spenser for The Faerie Queen The Faerie Queen and later used by Keats and Tennyson. It rhymes and later used by Keats and Tennyson. It rhymes ababbcbcc ababbcbcc and features a final line in iambic hexameter, an and features a final line in iambic hexameter, an alexandrine alexandrine.
spondee A metrical unit of two stressed feet. Or long feet if you're an ancient Greek. A metrical unit of two stressed feet. Or long feet if you're an ancient Greek.
sprung rhythm A phrase coined by Gerard Manley Hopkins to describe verse in which only the stresses are counted. See the section on it towards the end of Chapter One. A phrase coined by Gerard Manley Hopkins to describe verse in which only the stresses are counted. See the section on it towards the end of Chapter One.
stand A place to put a cake. A place to put a cake. Or Or, Ben Jonson's word for epode epode.
stanza, stanzaic What a verse is to a hymn or song, so a What a verse is to a hymn or song, so a stanza stanza is to a poem. is to a poem.
stave Sometimes used to refer to a Sometimes used to refer to a stanza. stanza.
stichic Of or in Of or in lines lines: how a poem is presented as distinct to prose. Christopher Ricks once said the real defining difference between prose and poetry was that whereas prose has has to go to the end of a line, with poetry it's an option. Reductive logic at its best. to go to the end of a line, with poetry it's an option. Reductive logic at its best.
stichomythia Verse presented as dialogue, often rapidly alternating between speakers. In verse drama refers to dialogue of single lines rather than speeches. Verse presented as dialogue, often rapidly alternating between speakers. In verse drama refers to dialogue of single lines rather than speeches.
stress The feeling that comes upon an author when he knows he must deliver a book to his publisher when it isn't quite finished yet and there's a glossary to be completed. The feeling that comes upon an author when he knows he must deliver a book to his publisher when it isn't quite finished yet and there's a glossary to be completed.
strophe The first part of a Pindaric Ode's The first part of a Pindaric Ode's triad triad. What Jonson called the turn turn.
substitutions The use of an alien metric foot in a line of otherwise regular metrical pattern. The use of an alien metric foot in a line of otherwise regular metrical pattern. Pyrrhic Pyrrhic and and trochaic trochaic substitutions are common in iambic verse, for example. substitutions are common in iambic verse, for example.
suspension of disbelief Term coined by Coleridge to describe a reader's willingness to accept as true what clearly is not. Term coined by Coleridge to describe a reader's willingness to accept as true what clearly is not.
syllable, syllabic The basic sound unit of a word. Come on, you know perfectly well. Of poetry it refers to forms that are predicated on their syllabic count rather than any metric considerations. The The basic sound unit of a word. Come on, you know perfectly well. Of poetry it refers to forms that are predicated on their syllabic count rather than any metric considerations. The haiku haiku and the and the tanaga tanaga, for example.
syllepsis Kind of Kind of zeugma zeugma q.v. where a verb governs two unlikely nouns or phrases: as in 'he left in a cab and a temper', and Pope's 'Or stain her Honour, or her new Brocade'. q.v. where a verb governs two unlikely nouns or phrases: as in 'he left in a cab and a temper', and Pope's 'Or stain her Honour, or her new Brocade'.
synaeresis A gliding of two syllables into one: in the opening line of A gliding of two syllables into one: in the opening line of Paradise Lost Paradise Lost 'Of man's first 'Of man's first disobedience disobedience and the fruit' and the fruit' d d becomes the four-syllable 'disobedyence'. Also called becomes the four-syllable 'disobedyence'. Also called synaloepha synaloepha.
synaloepha Look up at the preceding entry. Look up at the preceding entry.
syncope The The elision elision of a syllable from a word: 'prob'ly' for 'probably' etc. of a syllable from a word: 'prob'ly' for 'probably' etc.
synecdoche A figure of speech in which the part stands in for the whole or vice versa: e.g. 'England won the Ashes' where 'England' means the English Cricket XI, 'twenty hands', where 'hand' stands for a crewman etc. A figure of speech in which the part stands in for the whole or vice versa: e.g. 'England won the Ashes' where 'England' means the English Cricket XI, 'twenty hands', where 'hand' stands for a crewman etc.
syzygy High score at Scrabble that means a pair of connected or corresponding things. Two hemistichs make a syzygy, you might say, or a plug and a socket together. In poetics also refers to multiple alliteration and consonance, as in the Ms in Tennyson's 'The moan of doves in immemorial elms/And murmuring of innumerable bees' (from 'The Princess'). High score at Scrabble that means a pair of connected or corresponding things. Two hemistichs make a syzygy, you might say, or a plug and a socket together. In poetics also refers to multiple alliteration and consonance, as in the Ms in Tennyson's 'The moan of doves in immemorial elms/And murmuring of innumerable bees' (from 'The Princess').
tanaga A syllabic Filipino verse form. A syllabic Filipino verse form.
tanka A syllabic Japanese cinquain form of verse. The count is 5-7-5-7-7. A syllabic Japanese cinquain form of verse. The count is 5-7-5-7-7.
telestich An An acrostic acrostic where it is the last letters that do the spelling out. where it is the last letters that do the spelling out.
teleuton The terminating element of a line. The terminating element of a line.
tercet A three-line stanza. A three-line stanza.
ternary A foot composed of three metrical elements. A foot composed of three metrical elements. Anapaest, dactyl, amphimacer Anapaest, dactyl, amphimacer etc. etc.
terza rima An open stanzaic form with interlocking cross-rhyming. Used by Dante for his An open stanzaic form with interlocking cross-rhyming. Used by Dante for his Inferno Inferno.
tetractys Bizarre form of syllabic verse developed by Mr Stebbing. Bizarre form of syllabic verse developed by Mr Stebbing.
tetrameter A four-stress line. A four-stress line.
transferred epithet Illogical (often comic) use of image, transferring meaning from mood of person to object: 'I lit a moody cigarette', 'sad elms' etc. Illogical (often comic) use of image, transferring meaning from mood of person to object: 'I lit a moody cigarette', 'sad elms' etc.
triad, triadic The three-part structure of Pindaric Odes. Each triad consists of The three-part structure of Pindaric Odes. Each triad consists of strophe, antistrophe strophe, antistrophe and and epode epode or or turn, counter-turn turn, counter-turn and and stand stand as Ben Jonson dubbed them. Originated as actual physical movements in Greek choric dances. as Ben Jonson dubbed them. Originated as actual physical movements in Greek choric dances.
tribrach Ternary unit of three unstressed syllables. Forget it. Ternary unit of three unstressed syllables. Forget it.