Poetic Meter

Meter is the rhythm of a poem. There are specific ways to analyze meter so that we can say something clear about a poem’s rhythmic pattern. This lesson will show you how!

Scanning a Poem We “scan” a poem to determine its basic rhythm

and to consider the relevance of that rhythm to the meaning of the poem.

Poetry has much in common with music, and both have mathematical foundations.

When we scan a poem, we begin by saying the poetic lines aloud, paying careful attention to the syllables which seem to be stressed (pronounced with more emphasis).

Best of all, victory!

Best of all, victory!/ U U / U U

I bought a car today.

U / U / U /I bought a car today.

Look for hidden pitfalls

/ U / U / ULook for hidden pitfalls

In the cool of the night

U U / U U /In the cool of the night

Counting Stressed SyllablesCounting Stressed SyllablesOnce we have taken a count of the stressed syllables in each Once we have taken a count of the stressed syllables in each

line, we have a good idea of what the line, we have a good idea of what the dominant dominant meter of meter of the poem is. Every line may not be the same, but usually the poem is. Every line may not be the same, but usually there will be one dominant pattern. In Rich’s poem, we there will be one dominant pattern. In Rich’s poem, we could scan all the lines and we would see that there are could scan all the lines and we would see that there are generally 5 stresses (5 stressed syllables) to each line.generally 5 stresses (5 stressed syllables) to each line.

Poetry scansion makes use of some Greek-derived words to Poetry scansion makes use of some Greek-derived words to label the meter of a poem. Let’s take a look at those.label the meter of a poem. Let’s take a look at those.

We measure the meter of a poem using the measurement of We measure the meter of a poem using the measurement of poetic poetic feetfeet. A . A foot foot in poetry is one stressed syllable + the in poetry is one stressed syllable + the unstressed syllables that seem to go with it.unstressed syllables that seem to go with it.

Poetic MeterPoetic MeterThese terms show number of stresses or These terms show number of stresses or feetfeet to a line: to a line:

One stress One stress (foot)(foot) per line = mono + meter = monometer per line = mono + meter = monometer Two = di + meter = dimeterTwo = di + meter = dimeter Three = tri + meter = trimeterThree = tri + meter = trimeter Four = tetra + meter = tetrameterFour = tetra + meter = tetrameter Five = penta + meter = pentameterFive = penta + meter = pentameter Six = hex + a + meter = hexameterSix = hex + a + meter = hexameter Seven = hep + a + meter = heptameterSeven = hep + a + meter = heptameter Eight = oct + a + meter = octameterEight = oct + a + meter = octameter

Since Rich’s poem has 5 stresses per line, or Since Rich’s poem has 5 stresses per line, or five poetic feetfive poetic feet

per lineper line, we can say that its meter is , we can say that its meter is pentameterpentameter..

One More StepOne More Step Finally, we try to determine the Finally, we try to determine the dominantdominant type of stressed type of stressed

+ unstressed syllable combination which seems prominent + unstressed syllable combination which seems prominent throughout the poem.throughout the poem.

Though there may be many alternations back and forth Though there may be many alternations back and forth between unstressed and stressed syllables, there should be between unstressed and stressed syllables, there should be one dominant pattern. one dominant pattern.

Iambs and other weird patternsIambs and other weird patternsAlong with the iamb, there are other possible patterns:Along with the iamb, there are other possible patterns:

Pattern Noun AdjectivePattern Noun Adjective

uu / iamb iambic / iamb iambic

u uu u / anapest anapestic / anapest anapestic

/ / uu trochee trochaic trochee trochaic

/ / u uu u dactyl dactylic dactyl dactylic

/ / spondee spondaic / / spondee spondaic

Describing Poetic MeterDescribing Poetic Meter

We describe a poetic line, then, by its We describe a poetic line, then, by its type and type and number of poetic feetnumber of poetic feet. For example:. For example:

5 iambs = iambic pentameter5 iambs = iambic pentameter

4 trochees = trochaic tetrameter4 trochees = trochaic tetrameter

Saying something is in iambic pentameter tells Saying something is in iambic pentameter tells readers that the dominant meter of the poem is 5 readers that the dominant meter of the poem is 5 stresses to a line (pentameter) and that the stresses to a line (pentameter) and that the dominant pattern or “foot” of syllable stress is dominant pattern or “foot” of syllable stress is uu / / (iambic).(iambic).

Turn – subtle change in message or situation

Petrarchan SonnetPetrarchan Sonnet

ItalianItalian Earliest sonnet formEarliest sonnet form Wyatt brought to EnglandWyatt brought to England Octave and SestetOctave and Sestet 14 lines of iambic pentameter14 lines of iambic pentameter Abbaabba cdecdeAbbaabba cdecde Turn between octave and sestetTurn between octave and sestet

Spenserian SonnetSpenserian Sonnet

Iambic pentameterIambic pentameter 3 quatrains (4-line stanzas) & couplet3 quatrains (4-line stanzas) & couplet abab bcbc cdcd eeabab bcbc cdcd ee Turn in couplet or after line 8 (and Turn in couplet or after line 8 (and

sometimes 12)sometimes 12)

Shakespearean SonnetShakespearean Sonnet

3 quatrains and a couplet3 quatrains and a couplet Often 2 turns (one traditional after line 8; Often 2 turns (one traditional after line 8;

the second before couplet which ‘sums’ up)the second before couplet which ‘sums’ up) abab cdcd efef ggabab cdcd efef gg