Understanding Poetry Scansion
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Every word has syllables (monosyllabic – 1 syllable, polysyllabic – multiple syllables)
When we pronounce a word we put emphasis on a part of the word to make it sound right –
consider this sentence:
E.g. We put the emphasis on the right syllable (we put the emphasis on the first syllable)
OR: We put the emphasis on the right syllable
(this would not sound right as we would be emphasizing the wrong parts of these words) and
would interrupt the natural rhythm of the line.
The poet wants you to hear the cadence (the measure or beat of a rhythmical flow) e.g what if
the National Anthem, or Pledge of Allegiance is not sung or said correctly- the rhythm is off??
How do you know what rhythm a specific line of poetry has?
1) Count the syllables (check the dictionary if you get stuck)
2) Look for polysyllabic words
3) Check for patterns
*Note – sometimes a poet will add in little changes to ‘buck’ the traditional rhythm of the poem. Poets
such as Shakespeare would often take a two syllable or three syllable word and shorten it by inserting an
apostrophe. This presents an elision. There are different types of elisions which we will discuss later in
the course. For example:
Guided Practice (Use the steps listed above)
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost (1923)
Whose woods these are
1
2
3
4
I think I know
1 2 3 4
1) 8 syllables total
2) No polysyllabic words in these lines – (pretty good guess that it can be divided into twos).
3) Pattern can be arranged into the following 2 syllable feet.
Note the words that are stressed have a solid line, and the unstressed is like a U shape.
Our natural speech pattern lends itself to this particular cadence.
(each foot consists of an Iamb U/) and there are three of them = iambic tetrameter
Guided Practice
“The Tyger” by William Blake (use steps listed above)
Tyger Tyger burning bright/
1 2 3 4
5 6
7
In the forests of the night
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1) 14 syllables total
2) Look for polysyllabic words (tyger, burning, forests)
E.g.
Consider when you say these polysyllabic words – tyger, burning, and forests, where the main
emphasis lies. Sound them out loud. Your chin actually drops down when you are stressing a
syllable and pulls back up when you don’t.
3) Now checking for patterns. You might be able to guess, but there is a problem here.
There is an incomplete foot with only one syllable at the end of each line. This is known as
catalectic feet. Complete feet are acatalectic, whereas incomplete feet are known as
catalectic.
And the answer is….. Catalectic trochaic tetrameter
Each line has (/U) or trochaic feet, and one incomplete foot = 4 feet total per line.
Guided Practice
"The Destruction of Sennacherib" George Gordon (Lord Byron)
And the sheen of their
1
2
3
4
5
Spears was like stars
6
7
8
9
On the sea
10 11 12
1) Count syllables – not immediate pattern as 12 is divisible by 3 or 2.
2) Are their polysyllabic words. None in this poem.
3) Check for pattern – say aloud in groups of two, or threes. A clue is to look at alliteration.
E.g. would it sound natural to be in the following pattern?
And the / sheen of / their
Spears /was like / stars
On/ the sea
VS (or would it sound more natural in the following pattern)
And the sheen / of their
Spears /was like stars /
On the sea
Now you only have to figure out the stress pattern… is it: da da daa, or daa daa da
UU/
or
/UU
To determine this it helps to look at the alliteration. It didn’t happen by accident, the poet has
utilized this for a purpose.
The answer = Anapestic tetrameter
Think about why the poet did it this way. What is the purpose of this rhythm? The title might
help you answer this. This rhythm sounds like destruction – coming down to the stress at the end
of each feet sounds destructive vs at the beginning which sounds more uplifting.
Guided Practice
“The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson
1) Count syllables – 11 Is not an even number – so could it be a pattern of 2 or 3?
2) Look for any polysyllabic words – there is one Onward
/U
Given this we would be dealing with 9 syllables which would suggest patterns of 3s.
3) Test the pattern – is it going to be is it: da da daa, or daa daa da
UU/
or /UU
And the answer is… Catalectic dactylic tetrameter
This sounds like a charge.