METER
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Meter

METER
• Meter is the systematically arranged and measured rhythm in verse.
• Meter is measured in units of feet.
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Meter

SYMBOLS
= Unstressed Syllable
= Stressed Syllable
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Iambic
ˇ ´
Example: bal –
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Trochaic
Example:
– da
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Anapestic
ˇ ˇ ´
Example: con – tra –
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Dactylic
´ ˇ ˇ
Example:
– ni – ac
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Spondaic
Example:
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Amphibrach
ˇ ´ ˇ
Example:
Chi –
– go
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TYPE OF METRIC FOOT
Amphimacer
´ ˇ ´
Example:
– tti -
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TYPE OF LINE
Monometer
(one foot)
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TYPE OF LINE
Dimeter
(two feet)
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TYPE OF LINE
Trimeter
(three feet)
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TYPE OF LINE
Tetrameter
(four feet)
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TYPE OF LINE
Pentameter
(five feet)
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TYPE OF LINE
Hexameter
(six feet)
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TYPE OF LINE
Heptameter
(seven feet)
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TYPE OF LINE
Octometer
(eight feet)
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STANZAS
• Metric feet make up lines, which make up stanzas
• Stanzas are identified by the number of lines they contain
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• Couplet
–2 lines
STANZAS
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• Tercet
–3 lines
STANZAS
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• Quatrain
–4 lines
STANZAS
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• Cinquain
–5 lines
STANZAS
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• Sestet
–6 lines
STANZAS
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• Septet
–7 lines
STANZAS
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STANZAS
• Octet or Octave
–8 lines
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STANZAS
• X-lined stanza
–9 or more lines
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A FEW MORE TERMS YOU
SHOULD KNOW:
• Anacrusis
– an extra unaccented syllable at the beginning of a line before the regular meter begins.
• Catalexis
– Lacking the final syllable or syllables expected in the regular pattern of a metrical verse line.
The term is most often used when the final unstressed syllable is not used.
Geschke/British Literature
Meter

A FEW MORE TERMS YOU
SHOULD KNOW:
• Hypercatalectic--Having an extra syllable or syllables in excess of the normal length of a specified metrical verse line.
– Feminine Ending--The ending of a metrical verse line on an unstressed syllable (as in the regular trochaic line)
– Masculine Ending--The ending of a metrical verse line on a stressed syllable (as in the regular iambic line)
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Scansion
• The act of analyzing verse into its rhythmic components.
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Count The Number of Syllables
• Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
• 10 syllables
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Meter

Contemplate the Breakdown of the
Metric Feet
• Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
• Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
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Connect The Dots
• 5 Metric Feet
• 2 Syllables per Metric Foot
• Iambic?
• Trochaic?
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Scansion
• Iambic
˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄
• Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
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Scansion
• Trochaic
΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘
• Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
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Scansion
• Is the line iambic or trochaic?
• Which one sounds better?
• Look up the words in the dictionary:
˘ ΄
– Compare
΄ ˘
– Summer’s
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Scansion
• Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
• The Answer:
• Iambic Pentameter
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Catalexis
• In the golden lightning
Of the sunken sun.
• Count the number of syllables
• Line 1: 6
• Line 2: 5
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Catalexis
• Line 1
• In the golden lightning
΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘
• In the golden lightning
• Trochaic Trimeter
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Catalexis
• Line 2
• Of the sunken sun.
΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄
• Of the sunken sun.
• Trochaic Trimeter Catalectic
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