2. WHAT IS
METER?
Meter is what gives a poem its unique rhythm. In
traditional English poetry, meter has two main
parts. The first part is the number of syllables
in each line. The second part is which syllables
sound stronger than others. Because it depends
on both of these factors, English poetry is often
called accentual-syllabic verse
3. HOW DO
YOU WORK IT OUT
It's easy enough to count syllables, but we still
need to listen for patterns in
the strong syllables in each line.
This kind of focused reading is called scansion.
When we scan a line of poetry, we're looking for
the smallest pieces of the pattern. These pieces
are called metrical feet. A metrical foot is
simply a grouping of strong and weak syllables.
4. TYPES
Iamb: An iamb is a weak syllable followed
a strong syllable. Words like 'guitar' and phrases like
'to sleep' are iambs.
Trochee: A trochee is a strong syllable followed by a
weak syllable (the exact opposite of an iamb). Words
like 'baseball' and phrases like 'Thank you' are
trochees.
Anapest: An anapest is two weak syllables followed
by one strong syllable. Words like 'understand' and
phrases like 'in the dark' are anapests.
Dactyl: A dactyl is one strong syllable followed by
two weak syllables (the exact opposite of an
anapest). Words like 'camera' and phrases
like 'This is a . . .' are dactyls.
5. Of course, these aren't the only metrical feet.
Any combination of strong and weak syllables can
be considered a metrical foot.
A foot made of two strong syllables is called
a spondee.
A foot made of two weak syllables is called
a pyrrhic. Andrew Marvell‟s “The Garden”
contains examples of pyrrhic meter, here in bold:
“To a green thought in a green shade.”
Still, because we tend to emphasize one syllable
in a word more than others, spondees and
pyrrhics occur rarely in English.
6. FEET IN ACTION: MAKING METER
To describe the meter of a poem, we use a 2-word
phrase, such as 'dactylic hexameter.„
The first word in the phrase refers to the kind of
metrical foot the meter uses. This is accomplished by
turning the name of the metrical foot into
an adjective, like so:
'Iamb' becomes 'iambic.'
'Trochee' becomes 'trochaic.'
'Anapest' becomes 'anapestic.'
'Dactyl' becomes 'dactylic.'
The second word in the phrase refers to how
many metrical feet there are in each line. This is
accomplished by attaching a prefix to the word 'meter,'
like so:
A meter with two feet is called 'dimeter.'
A meter with three feet is called 'trimeter.'
A meter with four feet is called 'tetrameter.'
A meter with five feet is called 'pentameter.
A meter with six feet is called 'hexameter.'
7. WHAT IS
THIS AN EXAMPLE OF?
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
WHAT DOES THIS ADD TO THE POEM?
8. WHAT IS
THIS AN EXAMPLE OF?
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse . . .
WHAT DOES THIS ADD TO THE POEM?
Anapestic tetrameter has four anapests per line. Like
trochaic tetrameter, this meter is generally used in lighter,
more comical poems.
9. WHAT IS
THIS AN EXAMPLE OF?
This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight . .
WHAT DOES THIS ADD TO THE POEM?
Dactylic hexameter has six dactyls per line. Also called
'heroic hexameter,' this meter was used frequently in
ancient Greek poetry (such as Homer's Odyssey).
However, because of the differences between Greek and
English, English poems written entirely in dactylic hexameter
are rare. Here is an example from Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow's long poem Evangeline:
10. PRACTICE
Choose any of the forms and write a short poem
in that form.
The rest of the class should be able to identify
the number of feet and the stress.
