Why is poetry special?
1 The importance and relevance of poetry 
2 Themes and subjects in poetry 
3 The poet's purpose and point of view 
Understanding how poets create poetry?
The sounds of poetry 
4 Alliteration 
5 Rhyme 
6 Rhythm 
7 Onomatopoeia 
8 Assonance, consonance, word sounds 
Word pictures in poetry 
9 Simile 
10 Metaphor 
11 Personification 
12 Imagery 
13 Symbolism and allusion 
The shape of poetry: poetic forms and styles 
14 Syllable poems: haiku, tanka, syllable cinquains 
15 Couplets and quatrains
16 Ballads 
17 Shape poems, cinquains and limericks 
18 Narrative poetry
19 Lyric poetry 
20 Free verse, blank verse, prose poetry 
21 Dramatic monologue 
22 Sonnets 
Theory into practice
23 How to 'read' a poem 
24 'Reading' poems: practise your skills 
25 How to create your own poems 
Useful poetry websites
Answers 
Summary of definitions 
Index of poems 
Index of poets 
Acknowledgments