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Elements of Poetry

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Elements of Poetry
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Basics on the topic Elements of Poetry

Elements of Poetry

What are the elements of poetry? Elements of poetry are structural layouts, or devices, that are included in poetry. Short and simple:

If poetry was to be a pizza, the elements of poetry would be the single ingredients that you put on your pizza. You need to have some essential elements, but you don’t always have to follow the same recipe or include every single ingredient.

What are some elements of poetry? The chart below shows an overview of the elements of poetry together with a short explanation:

Element of poetry Explanation
stanza A single line of text in a poem
line A paragraph of lines forms a stanza
rhyme Words that end in the same sound
rhythm A pattern of arranged sounds and
rhymes creates the rhythm in
which poetry is read.
meter The organized rhythmic pattern of a poem
mood The feeling or atmosphere
which a poem creates

The elements of poetry may not be used in every poem. The poet, or writer, can choose which elements they wish to use!

Elements of Poetry – Examples

Here are some basic elements of poetry.

Line - A line is an entire line in a poem.

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Stanza - A stanza is like a paragraph for poems. It is a collection of lines.

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Rhyme - A rhyme is when you have words that end in the same sounds.

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Elements of Poetry – Summary

Here are the six different elements of poetry you may come across as you read poems.

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Element of poetry Explanation
stanza A single line of text in a poem
line A paragraph of lines forms a stanza
rhyme Words that end in the same sound
rhythm A pattern of arranged sounds and
rhymes creates the rhythm in
which poetry is read.
meter The organized rhythmic pattern of a poem
mood The feeling or atmosphere
which a poem creates

After watching the video you will find more interactive exercises, worksheets and more activities with which you can train your knowledge and the use of elements of poetry in 4th grade.

Transcript Elements of Poetry

Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you: But when the leaves hang trembling, the wind is passing through. Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I: But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by. You just saw Zayd and Ari in a poem called who has seen the wind, by Christina Rosetti. Let's learn all about the different elements of poetry! Poetry is a style of writing to evoke feelings, thoughts, and emotions in the reader, and often contains some specific elements. Let's identify some elements of poetry. This is called a stanza. A stanza is a collection of lines. There is usually a gap in between stanzas in a poem. A stanza is like a paragraph for poems! This is called a line. A line is an entire line in a poem. Lines in poetry can be different lengths, just like we see in this poem. A line can have one word or a lot of words, and doesn't have to follow usual punctuation rules! Meter is the number of syllables, or parts in a word, that are in one line. For example, who has seen the wind, has five syllables. Neither I nor you has five syllables. But when the leaves hang trembling has eight syllables. What is the meter in line four? The wind is passing through has six syllables. If we continued this for the second stanza, it follows the exact same pattern! When the meter in a poem does this, it usually leads to a pattern called the rhythm. This is the beat or sound that a poem has. Finally, some poems have rhyme. This is when the ending of the last word on specific lines have the same sound. For example, if you look at the second and fourth line, you and through both rhyme. Can you find another pair of rhyming words? In the sixth and eighth line, we have I and by! Not every line of a poem has to rhyme, and some poems don't have any rhyme at all. Another element this poem has is mood. The mood is the feeling the poet is trying to portray in their writing. In this poem, we are talking about a force that is unseen. The poet talks about not being able to see the force, but feeling and seeing the effect of the force around you. We would say the mood is one of wonder or mystery. So, what have we learned today about elements of poetry? Poetry usually have different elements. Some poems have stanzas, which is a group of lines, similar to a paragraph in regular writing. Some poems have lines, which is an entire line in a poem. Some poems have meter, which is the number of syllables in a line, often resulting in a pattern throughout the poem. Some poems have rhythm, which is the beat, or sound, of the poem. Some poems have rhyme, where the ending of the last word on specific lines have the same sound. Most poems have a mood, which is the feeling a poet is trying to portray. There are many elements of poetry. Poems can have many elements, some elements, and in some special poems, no elements at all! Elements can be thought of as a guideline, and not rules, for writing poetry. The important thing is that poetry invokes feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Zayd and Ari may not have seen the wind, but there is no need to wonder how strong the wind is!

Elements of Poetry exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Elements of Poetry.
  • True or False?

    Hints

    Different poems can use different elements and combinations of elements, such as rhythm, stanzas, or rhyming.

    The main goal of poetry is to evoke an emotional response in the reader. Because of this, poetry is very flexible and doesn't always use the same formats or rules.

    2 choices are true, and 2 are false.

    Solution
    • Lines in poetry must always follow standard punctuation rules. FALSE Lines in poetry do NOT always follow standard punctuation rules, but are instead flexible.
    • Most poems have a specific mood. Often poems evoke a mood, thought, or feeling. TRUE
    • Poems can have different elements. Elements in poems are guidelines more than rules. TRUE
    • Every line of a poem must always rhyme. FALSE Every poem does NOT always rhyme. Some do, and some don't.
  • Rhyming.

    Hints

    In stanza 1, line 4 rhymes with line 2.

    In stanza 2, line 4 rhymes with line 2.

    Solution

    In stanza 1, fall and all are rhyming words.
    In stanza 2, glistening and whistling and rhyming words.

  • Poetry terms and definitions.

    Hints

    Meter and Rhythm have similar, but not exactly the same, meanings.
    When you play a musical instrument, like a drum, you will pay attention to the rhythm.

    The moods of a poem can be almost anything. Shy, excited, hopeful, or sad are all examples of moods.

    A stanza has lines in it.

    Solution
    • A stanza is a collection of lines in a poem, similar to a paragraph.
    • A line is a line of text in a poem.
    • Rhythm is the beat or sound a poem has.
    • Meter is the number of syllables in a line of a poem, often resulting in a pattern.
    • Mood is the feeling a poet is trying to show.
  • Moody Blues.

    Hints

    A mysterious mood has lower energy, and can show non-human things acting human.
    Example: "The trees bow-down".

    An energetic mood can be associated with fast movements.

    Solution

    The phrases, launches up and springs out convey more of a feeling of fast movement, noise, or energy. These words match with the energy bubble.

    The phrases hang trembling and bow down can feel more quiet, subtle, or mysterious. These words match with the mystery bubble.

  • Elements of Poetry.

    Hints

    All poems should evoke thoughts, or feelings. What is another word for thoughts or feelings? This is an element of poetry.

    What is the name for a group of lines in a poem? This is an element of poetry.

    What is the word for the beat or flow in a poem? This is an element of poetry.

    Solution

    Mood, rhythm and lines and stanzas are all elements of poetry.

    Playscripts are a different type of writing and not an element of poetry.

  • Moodier blues.

    Hints

    In each line, look for key words that help you to determine the mood or feeling.

    In the line, "I celebrate myself, and sing myself", what mood do the words celebrate and sing remind you of?

    In the line, "Then he growled and grew aggressive, treating orders with disdain", what mood does the word growled remind you of?

    Solution

    Growled and aggressive remind us of an angry or confrontational mood.
    A dripping seat and wet night remind us of a sad, or gloomy mood.
    Celebrate and sing remind us of a happy or boisterous mood.
    A tune without words that never stops reminds us of a hopeful mood.