What is Meter in Poetry?
What is meter in poetry? That question seems unnecessary but believes me, it is the few that all poetry students should ask because the meter concept is as complex as the sea.
Meter in poetry is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse. It is the basic rhythmic structure of a poetry sequence, and it can create various effects, such as a sense of urgency, calmness, or excitement.
In poetry, the meter is the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm. The study of meter is known as prosody.
A teacher analysing meter
A foot is the basic unit of a meter. A foot is a group of syllables that follows a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The most common feet in English poetry are:
- Iamb: an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., “a-way”)
- Trochee: a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (e.g., “down-town”)
- Anapest: two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., “un-der-stand”)
- Dactyl: a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (e.g., “ca-mel”)
- Spondee: two stressed syllables (e.g., “good-bye”)
The meter of a poem can create a variety of effects. For example, iambic pentameter is often used to develop a sense of formality or seriousness.
Trochaic tetrameter can make sense of movement or excitement. Anapestic trimeter can generate a sense of lightness or playfulness. Dactylic hexameters can develop an understanding of epic grandeur. Spondaic dimeter can create a sense of heaviness or solemnity.
The poet can also use variations in meter to create interest and variety in their poems. For example, they might use a different meter for each stanza or insert a line or two of a different meter into a sequence of regular meters. This can help to create a sense of surprise or emphasis.
A meter is an essential element of poetry that can help create various effects. By understanding the different types of meter and how they can be used, poets can create beautiful and meaningful poems.
Types of Meter in Poetry
There are many different types of meter in poetry, but here are some of the most common:
1. Iambic Pentameter
This is the most common meter in English poetry. It consists of five pairs of syllables, with the first syllable in each team being unstressed and the second being stressed.
This creates a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that are often described as “da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM.” [Example: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” – William Shakespeare]
2. Trochaic Tetrameter
This meter consists of four pairs of syllables, with the first syllable in each team being stressed and the second syllable being unstressed.
This creates a more regular and bouncy rhythm than iambic pentameter. [Example: “The road not taken” – Robert Frost]
3. Anapestic Trimeter
This meter consists of three pairs of syllables, with the second syllable in each team being stressed and the first and third syllables being unstressed.
This creates a fast-paced and energetic rhythm. [Example: “The ants go marching one by one” – Traditional]
4. Dactylic Hexameter
This meter consists of six pairs of syllables, with the first syllable in each pair being stressed and the second and third syllables being unstressed. This creates a stately and dignified rhythm. [Example: “The Iliad” – Homer]
5. Spondaic Meter
This meter consists of pairs of stressed syllables. This creates a heavy and emphatic rhythm. [Example: “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” – Anonymous]
These are just a few of the many different meter types in poetry. The specific meter a poet chooses can significantly impact the poem’s rhythm, sound, and meaning.
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How Do You Identify a Meter in Poetry?
Here are the steps for identifying a meter in poetry:
1. Divide the Line into Syllables
A syllable is a unit of pronunciation consisting of a single vowel sound that may or may not contain a consonant sound. For example, the word “syllable” has three syllables: syl-la-ble.
2. Identify the Stressed and Unstressed Syllables
A stressed syllable is pronounced with more force than an unstressed syllable. In general, stressed syllables are more extended than unstressed syllables.
For example, the word “syllable” has two stressed syllables (syl-la) and one unstressed syllable (ble).
3. Group the Syllables into Feet
A foot is a unit of meter that consists of a certain number of syllables, with a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. There are five basic types of feet in English poetry:
- Iamb: an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (daDUM)
- Trochee: a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (DUMda)
- Spondee: two stressed syllables together (DUM DUM)
- Anapest: two unstressed syllables together (da da)
- Dactyl: a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (DUM da da)
4. Identify the Meter of the Line
The meter of a line is the type of foot repeated most often in the line. For example, if a line has five iambs, the meter of the line is iambic pentameter.
Here is an example of how to identify the meter of a line of poetry:
Line: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
- Syllables: Shall I com pare thee to a sum mer’s day?
- Stressed syllables: Shall I com pare thee to a sum mer’s
Unstressed syllables: day?
Feet: iambic pentameter
The line has five iambs, so the meter of the line is iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter is a very common meter in English poetry and is often used in sonnets, epics, and plays.
[…] aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language, such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and meter, to evoke meanings in addition to, or place of, a prosaic ostensible […]
February 10, 2024 at 7:33 am