Here's a breakdown:
* Meter: Refers to the rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
* Scansion: The process of analyzing a line of poetry to identify its meter.
Here's how to scan a line:
1. Identify the stressed and unstressed syllables: This can be tricky, as the stress in poetry sometimes differs from everyday speech. Look for natural emphasis within the word or phrase.
2. Mark the syllables: You can use symbols like "/" for stressed and "u" for unstressed.
3. Identify the pattern: Once you've marked the stressed and unstressed syllables, look for a repeating pattern.
Common Metrical Patterns:
* Iambic: Unstressed/Stressed (e.g., "the WIND/ is COLD")
* Trochaic: Stressed/Unstressed (e.g., "WINTER/ is HERE")
* Spondaic: Stressed/Stressed (e.g., "WHITE/ HOT")
* Anapestic: Unstressed/Unstressed/Stressed (e.g., "in the HEAT/ of the DAY")
* Dactylic: Stressed/Unstressed/Unstressed (e.g., "HAPPILY/ ever AFTER")
Example:
Let's scan the line "The WIND is COLD"
* The WIND / is COLD
* u / u /
This line follows an iambic pattern.
Note: Not all poetry follows a strict meter. Some poems are written in free verse, which lacks a set rhythm.
Scansion is a useful skill for understanding a poem's structure, rhythm, and overall effect. It can also help you identify the specific type of meter used, such as iambic pentameter or trochaic tetrameter.