Poetry often captivates us not just with its words and images, but with its sound. Like music, poetry has rhythm, a pulse that gives it structure and a unique feel when read aloud. This underlying rhythmic pattern in poetry is called meter. Understanding what’s a meter in poetry can unlock a deeper appreciation for how poets craft their work and how sound contributes to meaning.
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Meter in poetry is created by the careful arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables within a line. In English, words naturally have certain syllables that are emphasized more than others. Think about the difference between “present” (gift – PRE-sent) and “present” (to give – pre-SENT). Poets harness these natural stresses and arrange them into repeating units called “feet.” These feet combine to form the meter of a line or an entire poem.
Illustration of Iambic Meter
Let’s look at some common types of poetic feet and how they combine to create different meters. Understanding the meter of poem can greatly enhance your reading experience.
Common Types of Poetic Feet
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The Iamb: This is perhaps the most common foot in English poetry. It consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da DUM). The rhythm sounds like a heartbeat.
- Example: “beLOW“, “aBOVE“
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The Trochee: The opposite of an iamb, a trochee has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (DA dum).
- Example: “HAPpy”, “POem”
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The Anapest: This foot has two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (da da DUM). It often creates a feeling of movement or rushing.
- Example: “underSTAND“, “interVENE“
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The Dactyl: The opposite of an anapest, a dactyl has a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (DA dum dum). This foot was very common in classical Greek and Latin poetry.
- Example: “BEAUtiful”, “POetry”
Combining Feet to Create Meter
Poets combine these feet to form lines of varying lengths. The number of feet in a line determines the second part of the meter’s name. Here are some common line lengths:
- Monometer: 1 foot
- Dimeter: 2 feet
- Trimeter: 3 feet
- Tetrameter: 4 feet
- Pentameter: 5 feet
- Hexameter: 6 feet
- Heptameter: 7 feet
- Octameter: 8 feet
So, if a line has five iambs, its meter is called iambic pentameter. If it has four anapests, it’s anapestic tetrameter. Let’s see how these look in famous examples. You might be wondering, “what is the meter of this poem” as you read different works.
Famous Examples of Meter in Poetry
Iambic Pentameter:
As mentioned, this is incredibly common in English. Shakespeare frequently used it. Consider the opening of Sonnet 18:
Shall I | comPARE | thee TO | a SUM | mer’s DAY?
(da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM)
This natural-sounding rhythm mimics conversational speech while providing a subtle musicality.
Trochaic Octameter:
Edgar Allan Poe used this meter to create a haunting, rhythmic effect in “The Raven.”
ONCE | upON | a MID | night DREAR | y, WHILE | i PON | dered WEAK | and WEAR | y
(DA dum | DA dum | DA dum | DA dum | DA dum | DA dum | DA dum | DA dum)
(Note: Poe sometimes dropped the final unstressed syllable, a common variation in trochaic meter).
Illustration of Trochaic Meter
Anapestic Tetrameter:
This meter often lends itself to lighthearted or narrative verse, as seen in Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas”:
‘Twas the | night beFORE | Christ mas | when ALL | through the HOUSE
(da da DUM | da da DUM | da da DUM | da da DUM)
Illustration of Anapestic Meter
Dactylic Hexameter:
While less common than iambic pentameter, this meter has an epic feel, echoing classical poetry. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used it in “Evangeline”:
THIS is the | FORest pri | MEval, the | MURmuring | PINES and the | HEMlocks.
(DA dum dum | DA dum dum | DA dum dum | DA dum dum | DA dum dum | DA dum dum)
Interestingly, modern artists like the rap group Migos have used triplet rhythms that align metrically with dactyls or anapests, showing meter’s presence even in contemporary forms.
Illustration of Dactylic Meter Example 1
Illustration of Dactylic Meter Example 2 (Modern)
Why Does Meter Matter?
Identifying the meters of poems helps us read them with the intended rhythm, making them sound more natural and musical. But beyond pronunciation, meter is a powerful tool for the poet. It can:
- Create a mood or feeling: Fast meters (like anapestic or dactylic) can feel energetic or hurried, while slower meters (like iambic or trochaic) can feel more stately or deliberate.
- Emphasize certain words: A poet might intentionally place a word where the meter expects an unstressed syllable to give it extra emphasis, or vice versa.
- Build expectation and surprise: Once a metrical pattern is established, any deviation from it can draw the reader’s attention. These breaks in poetic meter can signal a shift in meaning, emotion, or focus.
Consider the opening lines of John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost,” which is primarily written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter). See if you can hear where the expected iambic rhythm is disrupted:
Opening Lines of Paradise Lost
“Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit
Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast
Brought Death into the World, and all our woe”
If you read it aloud with the expected iambic pentameter beat (da DUM da DUM…), you might notice the stress pattern feels off, particularly in the first line. Milton intentionally varies the meter here to make the opening words, which introduce the poem’s monumental theme, stand out. Analyzing why a poet breaks the meter at a specific point can be a fascinating way to interpret the poem’s deeper significance.
Conclusion
Understanding what’s a meter in poetry is like learning the basic grammar of poetic rhythm. It allows you to read poetry more effectively and to appreciate another layer of the poet’s craft. By paying attention to the stress patterns and identifying the poetic feet, you gain insight into the sonic texture and structural choices that contribute to the poem’s overall impact. Next time you read a poem, try listening for its meter – it might just change the way you hear it.