Display and Discuss Poetry Vocabulary

Poetry is tough to teach! And a major point that students struggle with is knowing what different terms mean when reading and writing poetry. We’ve created a purposeful and highly useful word wall to help you display key poetic terms for daily discussion and reference.

Knowing the terms related to poetry can be helpful for several reasons. It can help students understand and analyse poems better, as they will have a shared vocabulary to discuss and describe the elements of poetry. Knowing the terms can also help them to write poems more effectively, as they can use the terms to describe and shape the elements of their own work. In addition, knowing the terms can help them to appreciate and understand poetry more fully, as they will have a greater understanding of the techniques and craft that go into writing poems.

Poetry Terms Included in This Word Wall

The poetry vocabulary included in this resource includes: poem, imagination, expression, structure, form, fixed verse, free verse, rhyming, non-rhyming, rhythm, metre, stressed syllables, sound devices, repetition, alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, figurative language, imagery, simile, metaphor, personification, word play, tone, mood, atmosphere, effect, theme, meaning.

This word wall is a great way to start a unit of study surrounding poetry. We recommend you print and display these poetry vocabulary cards in your classroom during your unit and review them daily with short, 5-10 minute vocabulary games.

Download to Teach Poetry Vocabulary

This poetry word wall is available to download as a full-colour PDF. Use the Download button above to access this file.

More Resources for Your Poetry Unit!

Click below to browse more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources to use for your upcoming poetry unit!

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