1. Syllabic Meter:
* Syllable Count: Some meters are simply based on the number of syllables per line (e.g., pentameter has five syllables).
2. Stress Pattern:
* Iamb: An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM). This is the most common meter in English poetry.
* Trochee: A stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (DUM-da).
* Spondee: Two stressed syllables (DUM-DUM).
* Anapest: Two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (da-da-DUM).
* Dactyl: A stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (DUM-da-da).
3. Meter Types:
* Iambic Pentameter: Five iambs per line (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). Common in Shakespearean sonnets and plays.
* Iambic Tetrameter: Four iambs per line (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). Often used in ballads.
* Trochaic Tetrameter: Four trochees per line (DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da).
* Anapestic Tetrameter: Four anapests per line (da-da-DUM da-da-DUM da-da-DUM da-da-DUM).
4. Meter and Rhythm:
* While meter is the *pattern* of stressed and unstressed syllables, rhythm is the actual *sound* of the poem as it's read aloud. The rhythm can be affected by factors like enjambment (line breaks) and punctuation.
5. Meter and Poetic Devices:
* Meter can be varied for effect. Poets might use a different meter in certain lines to emphasize a word or create a particular mood.
* Meter can be combined with other poetic devices. For instance, a poem written in iambic pentameter might also employ rhyme and alliteration.
Examples:
* Iambic pentameter: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" (Shakespeare)
* Trochaic tetrameter: "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble." (Shakespeare)
* Anapestic tetrameter: "The Raven sat upon the bust of Pallas just above my door." (Poe)
Understanding meter is crucial for appreciating the rhythm, sound, and meaning of a poem. It helps us to see how poets use language to create different effects and to understand the structure of their work.