Understanding meter is crucial for analyzing and appreciating poetry. It provides the rhythmic backbone of a poem, influencing its mood, tone, and overall impact. This guide will equip you with the tools to identify and analyze meter, unlocking a deeper understanding of poetry.
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What is Meter in Poetry?
Meter refers to the recurring pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables within a line of poetry. This pattern creates a rhythm that distinguishes poetry from prose. Before delving into meter, we need to understand the concept of a “foot.”
Understanding Poetic Feet
A foot is the basic unit of meter, consisting of a specific combination of stressed and unstressed syllables. We use the following symbols to represent these syllables:
/(forward slash): Represents a stressed syllable (DUM)x(lowercase x): Represents an unstressed syllable (da)
Common types of feet include:
- Iamb: x / (unstressed-stressed) – be-LIEVE
- Trochee: / x (stressed-unstressed) – GAR-den
- Spondee: / / (stressed-stressed) – HEAD-STRONG
- Anapest: x x / (unstressed-unstressed-stressed) – in-ter-VENE
- Dactyl: / x x (stressed-unstressed-unstressed) – PO-e-try
Identifying Meter
Once you understand poetic feet, you can identify the meter of a poem. Meter is described by combining the type of foot and the number of feet per line. The number of feet is indicated using Greek prefixes:
- Monometer: One foot per line
- Diameter: Two feet per line
- Trimeter: Three feet per line
- Tetrameter: Four feet per line
- Pentameter: Five feet per line
- Hexameter: Six feet per line
For example, “iambic pentameter” means each line consists of five iambs (five pairs of unstressed-stressed syllables).
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A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Meter
Here’s a practical approach to identifying and analyzing meter:
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Read Aloud: Read the poem aloud multiple times. This helps you hear the natural rhythm and identify the stressed and unstressed syllables.
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Mark Syllables: Go through the poem line by line, marking stressed syllables with
/and unstressed syllables withx. -
Identify Feet: Look for recurring patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables to identify the type of foot used in each line.
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Count Feet: Count the number of feet in each line.
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Name the Meter: Combine the type of foot and the number of feet to name the meter (e.g., iambic tetrameter, trochaic trimeter).
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Analyze Variations: Observe any variations or irregularities in the meter. These deviations can be intentional and contribute to the poem’s meaning and effect.
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Consider the Effect: Reflect on how the meter contributes to the poem’s overall tone, mood, and meaning. Does it create a sense of regularity, urgency, or chaos?
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Example Analysis: Rosemary Dobson’s Young Girl at a Window
Let’s analyze the first stanza:
“Lift your hand to the window latch:
Sighing, turn and move away.
More than mortal swords are crossed
On thresholds at the end of day;
The fading air is stained with red
Since Time was killed and now lies dead.”
Notice how the last two lines exhibit a clear iambic tetrameter pattern:
The FADing AIR is STAINED with RED
Since TIME was KILLED and NOW lies DEAD.
The preceding lines, however, deviate from this regular pattern. This shift in meter creates a sense of unevenness, mirroring the young girl’s emotional state.
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Conclusion
By understanding the basic principles of meter and practicing the steps outlined above, you can unlock a deeper appreciation for the artistry of poetry. Analyzing meter allows you to understand how poets use rhythm to create specific effects and convey meaning. Remember to read aloud, mark syllables, identify feet, and consider the overall effect to fully grasp the power of meter in poetry.