Overview
This lecture explains rhythm and meter in poetry, focusing on how patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables create meaning and structure.
Rhythm and Meter: Definitions
- Rhythm is the pattern of stressed (emphasized) and unstressed syllables in language.
- Meter is the measured organization of rhythm, often used in poetry.
- Rhythm is natural; meter is the structured measurement of that rhythm.
Stressed vs. Unstressed Syllables
- A syllable is a unit of sound within a word (monosyllabic = one syllable, polysyllabic = multiple syllables).
- Stressed syllables carry more emphasis; unstressed syllables carry less.
- Monosyllabic nouns, verbs, and adjectives are often stressed.
- Helping verbs, being verbs, suffixes, and possessive pronouns are usually unstressed.
- Relative stress is key; no two syllables are stressed exactly the same.
Identifying and Marking Patterns
- Stressed syllables are marked with "/" or an accent, unstressed with "u".
- Marking these helps visualize patterns in poetry.
- Practice identifying stress by speaking words aloud or feeling jaw movement.
Metrical Feet and Their Types
- Feet are units of stressed and unstressed syllables.
- Two-syllable feet:
- Iamb (u /): unstressed, stressed (rising rhythm).
- Trochee (/ u): stressed, unstressed (falling rhythm).
- Three-syllable feet:
- Anapest (u u /): two unstressed, one stressed (rising).
- Dactyl (/ u u): one stressed, two unstressed (falling).
- Irregular feet:
- Spondee (/ /): two stressed syllables.
- Pyrrhic (u u): two unstressed syllables.
Meter in Lines of Poetry
- The number of feet in a line defines its meter:
- Monometer: 1 foot
- Dimeter: 2 feet
- Trimeter: 3 feet
- Tetrameter: 4 feet
- Pentameter: 5 feet
- Hexameter: 6 feet, etc.
- "Iambic pentameter" means five iambs per line.
Importance and Effects of Rhythm
- Rhythm shapes the feel and meaning of poetry for the reader.
- Patterns can speed up, slow down, or emphasize lines, affecting how a poem is received.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Rhythm — The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in language.
- Meter — The measured arrangement of beats (syllables) in poetry.
- Syllable — A unit of sound in a word.
- Foot (feet) — The basic unit of meter, made of stressed and unstressed syllables.
- Iamb — Unstressed followed by stressed syllable (u /).
- Trochee — Stressed followed by unstressed syllable (/ u).
- Anapest — Two unstressed, one stressed (u u /).
- Dactyl — One stressed, two unstressed (/ u u).
- Spondee — Two stressed syllables (/ /).
- Pyrrhic — Two unstressed syllables (u u).
- Monometer, Dimeter, Trimeter, Tetrameter, Pentameter, Hexameter — Lines with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 feet respectively.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice reading poetry aloud and mark the stressed and unstressed syllables.
- Try identifying and naming the metrical foot and meter in sample poetic lines.
- Optional: Read Robert Pinsky's "The Sounds of Poetry: A Brief Guide" for deeper understanding.