Meter
Poetic meter is created through the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Here are explanations and examples of different poetic metrical feet:
˘ = unstressed syllable
/ = stressed syllable
Iambic (˘ /):
Explanation: In an iambic foot, the stress falls on the second syllable of a two-syllable pair.
Example: "To-DAY"
Trochaic (/ ˘):
Explanation: In a trochaic foot, the stress falls on the first syllable of a two-syllable pair.
Example: "HEL-lo"
Anapestic (˘ ˘ /):
Explanation: An anapestic foot consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable.
Example: "in-ter-VENE"
Dactylic (/ ˘ ˘):
Explanation: A dactylic foot begins with a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.
Example: "MER-ri-ly"
Spondaic (/ /):
Explanation: In a spondaic foot, both syllables are stressed, creating a heavy, emphatic rhythm.
Example: "STOP RUN
Pyrrhic (˘ ˘):
Explanation: A pyrrhic foot consists of two unstressed syllables, creating a soft, subdued rhythm.
Example: "of the"
Examples of Some Meteric Feet
Anapestic Trimeter:
Explanation: This meter consists of three anapestic feet per line.
˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ /
Example: "In the MEAD-ow where SUN-light be-gins."
Iambic Pentameter
Explanation: Iambic pentameter is a line with five iambs (stressed/unstressed pairs).
˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /
Example: "Shall I com-PARE thee TO a SUM-mer's DAY?"
Trochaic Tetrameter:
Explanation: Trochaic tetrameter consists of four trochees (stressed/unstressed pairs) per line.
/ ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘
Example: "TELL me NOT in MOURN-ful NUM-bers"
These metrical feet provide the building blocks for various poetic forms and contribute to the overall rhythm and musicality of a poem. Writers often choose a specific meter to evoke certain emotions or create a particular cadence within their work.
Definition
Is the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry. Meter gives rhythm and regularity to poetry.
However, the English language does not always fit exactly into metrical patterns so many poems employing meter will exhibit irregularities.
In English verse the most common meters are: iambic, dactylic, trochaic and anapestic. Other meters are occasionally used, such as spondaic and pyrrhic.
Iambic Meter
An end stressed two syllable foot e.g. from In Memoriam by Lord Tennyson
I DREAMED | there WOULD| be SPRING | no MORE
This example is an iambic tetrameter - i.e. it has four iambic feet and therefore the total number of syllables in the line is eight. Iambic is an example of rising meter.
Trochaic meter
A front stressed two syllable foot.
e.g. The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
BY the | SHORES of | GIT chee | GUMee,
This example is trochaic tetrameter - i.e. four two syllable feet. Therefore the total line has eight syllables. Trochaic meter is less commonly used than iambic meter. Trochaic is an example of falling meter.
Anapestic meter
An end stressed three syllable foot e.g. The Destruction of the Sennacherib by Byron:
And the SHEEN | of their SPEARS | was like STARS | on the SEA,
This line is an anapestic tetrameter i.e. it has four feet containing three syllables each. Therefore the total number of syllables in the line is twelve.
Feet
Each of the above meters can be used in lines with varying numbers of feet. The number of feet in a line is usually classified as follows:
monometer (one foot)
dimeter (two feet)
trimeter (three feet) tetrameter (four feet), pentameter(five feet), hexameter (six feet),heptameter (seven feet) and octameter(eight feet).
Dactylic Meter
A front stressed three syllable foot e.g. The Lost Leader by Robert Browning
WE that had | LOVED him so, | FOLlowed him | HONoured him,
This line is an example of dactyllic tetrameter i.e. it has four feet containing three syllables each. Therefore the total number of syllables in the line is twelve.