15 Types of Poetic Forms

From sonnets and epics to haikus and villanelles, learn more about 15 of literature’s most enduring types of poems.

1. Blank verse. Blank verse is poetry written with a precise meter—almost always iambic pentameter—that does not rhyme.

2. Rhymed poetry. In contrast to blank verse, rhymed poems rhyme by definition, although their scheme varies.

3. Free verse. Free verse poetry is poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form.

What Is Consonance in Poetry?

In poetry, rhyme isn’t the only way to introduce memorability and musicality. Consonance presents poets with the possibility of playing around with the repetition of consonant sounds.

What Is Dissonance in Poetry?

The human brain instinctively looks for harmony. When it is denied harmony, it can create a powerful moment—whether that’s for the purposes of creating tension, capturing inner turmoil, or bringing a bit of levity. Dissonance injects discomfort into text through inharmonious sounds and uneven rhythms.