Poetry's rhythm and meter are essential elements that give verses their musical quality. Stressed and unstressed syllables create patterns called feet, which form the backbone of poetic meter. Understanding these patterns helps readers appreciate the flow and structure of poems.

Scansion is the process of breaking down a poem's meter, identifying stressed and unstressed syllables. This technique reveals the underlying rhythmic structure, helping readers grasp how poets use meter to enhance meaning and evoke emotions in their work.

Meter and Rhythm

Understanding Poetic Meter

• Meter refers to the rhythmic structure of a poem, created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line
• A foot is the basic unit of rhythm in a line of poetry, usually containing one stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllables
• Stressed syllables are emphasized or accented, while unstressed syllables are not emphasized ($Stréssed$ vs. $Un-stréssed$)
• The number of feet in a line determines the meter of the poem (pentameter = 5 feet, hexameter = 6 feet)

Techniques for Creating Rhythm

• Caesura is a pause or break in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation, that creates rhythm and emphasis ("To be, | or not to be")
• Enjambment occurs when a sentence or phrase runs over from one line to the next without a pause, creating a sense of forward momentum and fluidity
  • Example: "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, / But I have promises to keep"

Scansion Techniques

Analyzing Poetic Meter

• Scansion is the process of analyzing the metrical pattern of a poem by identifying the stressed and unstressed syllables in each line
• To perform scansion:
  1. Divide the poem into lines and mark the natural stresses in each word
  2. Determine the type of foot being used (iamb, trochee, dactyl, etc.)
  3. Count the number of feet per line to determine the meter (pentameter, hexameter, etc.)
  4. Look for any variations or substitutions in the metrical pattern
• Scansion helps readers understand the rhythm and structure of a poem, as well as how it contributes to the overall meaning and tone

Common Metrical Patterns

Iambic Meter

• Iambic pentameter is a common metrical pattern in English poetry, consisting of five iambs per line (10 syllables total)
  • An iamb is a foot with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable ($da-DUM$)
  • Example: "Shall I com-pare thee to a sum-mer's day?" (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)
• Iambic pentameter is known for its natural, speech-like rhythm and is often used in sonnets, blank verse, and heroic couplets

Other Metrical Feet

• Trochee is a foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable ($DUM-da$)
  • Example: "Dou-ble, dou-ble, toil and trou-ble" (Shakespeare, Macbeth)
• Dactyl is a foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables ($DUM-da-da$)
  • Example: "This is the for-est pri-me-val" (Longfellow, Evangeline)
• Anapest is a foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable ($da-da-DUM$)
  • Example: "The As-sy-rian came down like a wolf on the fold" (Byron, The Destruction of Sennacherib)
• Spondee is a foot consisting of two stressed syllables ($DUM-DUM$), often used for emphasis or in combination with other feet
  • Example: "Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death" (Milton, Paradise Lost)