Meter in Poetry

METER IN P O E T R Y
METER
The meter is the pattern of beats in a line

of poetry. It is a combination of the number
of beats and arrangement of stresses.
METER
The study of meter or the arrangement of beats
(and how many there are) is known as prosody.
When analyzing the meter of a particular poem,
it’s important to count how many beats there are
in a line and how they sound.
DEFINITION
Stressed syllable is a syllable that has emphasis within a word

(or within a line of poetry). We read them louder or with
conviction, sometimes more dramatic than the other syllables.
Unstressed syllable is a syllable that is softer and are not emphasized

when read.
Beats refers to the rhythm created through repeating patterns of

stressed and unstressed syllables. These repeating patterns are
called ''feet,'' and one foot is often considered to be one beat.
EXAMPLE
EM-pha-size, em-PHA-size, em-pha-SIZE.
A-lu-min-um, a-LU-min-um, a-lu-MIN-um, a-lu-min-UM.

EXAMPLE
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

By Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Can you determine the stress and unstressed syllables?

EXAMPLE
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

By Robert Frost
Two ROADS di-VERGED (in a) YEL-low WOOD,

and SOR-(ry i) COULD not TRAV-el BOTH
and BE one TRAV'ler, LONG i STOOD
and LOOKED down ONE as FAR (as i) COULD
To WHERE it BENT (in the) UN-der-GROWTH.
Iambic Tetrameter
TYPES OF METER
Iamb: contains one unstressed and one stressed syllable.
Trochee: contains one stressed and one unstressed syllable.
Spondee: contains two stressed syllables.
Anapest: consists of three beats, two unstressed and one stressed.
Dactyl: consists of three beats, one stressed and two unstressed.
Amphibrach: one stressed syllable followed by an unstressed
syllable and ending with another unstressed syllable.
Pyrrhic: two unstressed syllables.
NUMBER OF BEATS OR FEET
•Trimeter: three beats per line

•Tetrameter: four beats per line
•Pentameter: five beats per line (one of
the most popular in the english language)
GUESS THE METER – BY GROUP
A Visit from St. Nicholas
by Clement Clarke Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through

the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
Anapestic Tetrameter
A Visit from St. Nicholas
by Clement Clarke Moore
‘Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas, when ALL

through the HOUSE
Not a CREATure was STIRring, not Even a MOUSE;
The sTOCkings were HUNG by the CHIMney with
CARE,
Anapestic Tetrameter
My Last Duchess
by Robert Browning
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,

Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Iambic Pentameter
My Last Duchess
by Robert Browning
That’s MY last DUCHess PAINTed ON the WALL,

LookING as IF she WERE aLIVE. i CALL
That PIECE a WONder, NOW; fra PANdolf’s HANDS
Worked BUSiLY a DAY, and THERE she STANDS.
Iambic Pentameter
The Raven
by Edgar Allan Poe
ONCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door
Trochaic Tetrameter
The Raven
by Edgar Allan Poe
ONCE uPON a MIDnight DREAry,
WHILE i PONdered, WEAK and WEAry,
Over MAny a QUAINT and CURious VOLume of FORgotTEN lore—
WHILE i NODded, NEARly NAPping, SUDdenLY there CAME a
TAPping,
AS of SOME one GENTly RAPping, RAPping at MY chamBER door.
“’TIS some VIsiTOR,” i MUTtered, “TAPping AT my CHAMber door
Trochaic Tetrameter
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Iambic Tetrameter
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
by William Wordsworth
i WANdered LONEly AS a CLOUD
That FLOATS on HIGH o’er VALES and HILLS,
When ALL at ONCE i SAW a CROWD,
a HOST, of GOLDen DAFfoDILS;
BeSIDE the LAKE, beNEATH the TREES,
FlutTERING and DANcing IN the BREEZE.
Iambic Tetrameter

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METER IN P O E T R Y

The meter is the pattern of beats in a line

Stressed syllable is a syllable that has emphasis within a word

Unstressed syllable is a syllable that is softer and are not emphasized

Beats refers to the rhythm created through repeating patterns of

EM-pha-size, em-PHA-size, em-pha-SIZE.

A-lu-min-um, a-LU-min-um, a-lu-MIN-um, a-lu-min-UM.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

Can you determine the stress and unstressed syllables?

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two ROADS di-VERGED (in a) YEL-low WOOD,

•Trimeter: three beats per line

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through

‘Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas, when ALL

That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,

That’s MY last DUCHess PAINTed ON the WALL,

ONCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

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