WRITING EPIC POETRY: DACTYLIC HEXAMETER
In this project you are going to try your hand at writing in dactylic hexameter, the meter of Homer
and Virgil. A dactyl is a three syllable poetic foot that goes stressed-unstressed-unstressed (such as
the word HAPP-i-ly). Hexameter would mean there are six repetitions of dactylic words or phrases.
In the reality of epic poetry, however, pure dactylic meter would be extremely tedious to listen to and
difficult to write. So epic poets write in a combination of dactyls and spondees (stressed-stressed as
in the word A-MEN) or sometimes trochees (stressed-unstressed as in PEN-cil.)
Here are three lines of dactylic hexameter poetry by Charles Kingsley. They have been scanned for
you:
   /   /  /  /    /
Teacher of wisdom to heroes, bestower of might in the battle;
   /    / 
 /    /    / 
Share not the cunning of Hermes, nor list to the songs of Apollo,
   /  /   /   /  /
Fearing the stars of the sky, and the roll of the blue salt water.
Project Requirements:
You are going to write a dactylic hexameter poem of four or more lines using primarily or exclusively
dactyls. At least four of your six feet in each line must be dactylic. The other two may be spondees
or trochees. Your lines must make sense together. The poem does not have to rhyme. Recall that all
your two or more syllable words must be placed correctly in the lines so that their naturally stressed
syllables fall on a stressed syllable in the meter.
Type the finished poem or handwrite it neatly on lined paper. Add a border, clip art, sketch or other
decoration to improve presentation. Give your poem an appropriate title.
Supporting documents: You must include your rough draft of your poem that you have scanned
(marked for stressed and unstressed syllables) to show that the meter meets the above requirements.
You must have filled out the self-check edit sheet as well as the RAFTS prompt below.
Due date:
R
A
F
T
S
Self-Check Edit Sheet:
Circle Yes or No. Check each task off as you accomplish it, and use your findings to steer revision.
____ I have marked up the stressed and unstressed syllables on my draft.
Y/N
____ Organization: My meter is primarily dactylic hexameter with only an occasional spondee or
trochee per line.
Y/N
I have six poetic feet per line.
_____ My lines hold together and are all on one topic
_____ Presentation: I have an original title. Y / N
new line. Y / N
Y/N
Y/N
I have written in verse format capitalizing each
My decoration to enhance presentation will be __________________________
____ Conventions: My punctuation, whether at the end or in the middle of a line, is used to enhance
the poem’s meaning.
Y/N
____ My focus in my revisions will be on _____________________________________________
Name _______________________________
Grading Sheet:
Organization: Poem is in dactylic hexameter (or meets above requirements)
_______/15
Ideas: lines hold together in meaning
_______/5
Presentation is neat with a border, graphic or sketch as enhancement;
Final is written in verse format with each line capitalized; original title
_______/10
Conventions (spelling, usage, logical punctuation to enhance meaning)
_______/5
Supporting documents (draft showing revisions, RAFTS and self-check edit
sheet filled out)
_______/5
TOTAL
_______/40 pts
Model of four-line poem in dactylic hexameter:
Awkwardly, awkwardly up from the blossoming field full of
daffodils,
Hurried a talented painter of scenery; homeward to family,
Quickly he ran. He was burdened with paint, and with food for his
evening meal;
Long it had been since they’d dined to their fill. In an instant his
whole life was changed.