Sprung Rhythm is a poetic meter introduced by Gerard Manley Hopkins in the Victorian era.

1. Sprung Rhythm
Sprung Rhythm is a poetic meter introduced by Gerard Manley Hopkins in the Victorian era.
1. Varied Structure: Unlike strict meters like iambic pentameter, sprung rhythm allows for a
flexible number of feet per line and irregular syllable counts.
2. Inspired by Speech Patterns: Hopkins aimed to replicate the natural, varied cadences of
common speech observed in folk songs and traditional English literature.
3. Stressed and Unstressed Syllables: It uses a mix of stressed (represented by capital S) and
unstressed (lowercase w) syllables to create a natural rhythm.
4. Limited Influence: Despite its innovation, sprung rhythm didn’t gain widespread
adoption in poetry and none of Hopkins' poems were published during his lifetime.
5. Bridging Traditional and Free Verse: It served as a bridge between strict, structured
metrical poetry and free verse, offering an alternative form that embraced natural speech
patterns in a structured manner.
History of Sprung Rhythm:
Origin: Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Victorian-era poet, introduced sprung rhythm as an
innovative poetic meter. He aimed to capture the natural, varied cadences of speech observed in
traditional English literature, folk songs, and early poems.
Innovation: Hopkins didn’t claim to invent sprung rhythm, but rather aspired to revive the
rhythmic patterns found in common speech. He sought to break away from the rigidity of
traditional meters and embrace a more fluid and natural rhythm in poetry.
Examples of Sprung Rhythm:
Example 1: From Gerard Manley Hopkins
"Not, I'll not, carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee"
In this line from Hopkins' poem "Carrion Comfort," the irregular stress pattern and the varying
number of syllables per foot exemplify the essence of sprung rhythm.

2. Example 2: From "The Windhover" by Hopkins
"My heart in hiding Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!"
Here, Hopkins employs a mix of stressed and unstressed syllables to create a natural and vibrant
rhythm, showcasing the essence of sprung rhythm.
Example 3: Contemporary Usage
Contemporary poets have occasionally experimented with sprung rhythm. While it didn’t
become a standard, some modern poets have incorporated elements of this flexible meter in their
works, following Hopkins' lead in embracing natural speech patterns within structured verse.
Sprung rhythm's influence remains significant in the evolution of poetic forms, offering an
alternative to strict metrical patterns while allowing for a more organic and varied rhythm in
poetry.
Examples of Sprung Rhythm:
Example 1: From Gerard Manley Hopkins
"Not, I'll not, carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee"

3. In this line from Hopkins' poem "Carrion Comfort," the irregular stress pattern and the varying number
of syllables per foot exemplify the essence of sprung rhythm.
Example 2: From "The Windhover" by Hopkins
"My heart in hiding Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!"
Here, Hopkins employs a mix of stressed and unstressed syllables to create a natural and vibrant
rhythm, showcasing the essence of sprung rhythm.
Example 3: Contemporary Usage
Contemporary poets have occasionally experimented with sprung rhythm. While it didn’t become a
standard, some modern poets have incorporated elements of this flexible meter in their works,
following Hopkins' lead in embracing natural speech patterns within structured verse.
Sprung rhythm's influence remains significant in the evolution of poetic forms, offering an alternative to
strict metrical patterns while allowing for a more organic and varied rhythm in poetry.