Geschke/British Literature Meter METER

Geschke/British Literature Meter METER Meter is the systematically arranged and measured rhythm in verse. Meter is measured in units of feet.

Geschke/British Literature Meter SYMBOLS ˘ = Unstressed Syllable ΄ = Stressed Syllable

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Iambic ˇ ´ Example: bal – loon

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Trochaic ´ ˇ Example: so – da

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Anapestic ˇ ˇ ´ Example: con – tra – dict

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Dactylic ´ ˇ ˇ Example: ma – ni – ac

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Spondaic ´ Example: man – made

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Amphibrach ˇ ´ ˇ Example: Chi – ca – go

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF METRIC FOOT Amphimacer ´ ˇ ´ Example: A – tti - tude

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Monometer (one foot)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Dimeter (two feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Trimeter (three feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Tetrameter (four feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Pentameter (five feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Hexameter (six feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Heptameter (seven feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter TYPE OF LINE Octometer (eight feet)

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Metric feet make up lines, which make up stanzas Stanzas are identified by the number of lines they contain

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Couplet –2 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Tercet –3 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Quatrain –4 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Cinquain –5 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Sestet –6 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Septet –7 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS Octet or Octave –8 lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter STANZAS X-lined stanza –9 or more lines

Geschke/British Literature Meter 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.

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) Geschke/British Literature Meter

Scansion The act of analyzing verse into its rhythmic components.

Geschke/British Literature Meter Count The Number of Syllables Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? 10 syllables

Geschke/British Literature Meter Contemplate the Breakdown of the Metric Feet Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Geschke/British Literature Meter Connect The Dots 5 Metric Feet 2 Syllables per Metric Foot Iambic? Trochaic?

Geschke/British Literature Meter Scansion Iambic ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Geschke/British Literature Meter Scansion Trochaic ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Geschke/British Literature Meter Scansion Is the line iambic or trochaic? Which one sounds better? Look up the words in the dictionary: ˘ ΄ –Compare ΄ ˘ –Summer’s

Geschke/British Literature Meter Scansion Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? The Answer: Iambic Pentameter

Geschke/British Literature Meter Catalexis In the golden lightning Of the sunken sun. Count the number of syllables Line 1: 6 Line 2: 5

Geschke/British Literature Meter Catalexis Line 1 In the golden lightning ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ In the golden lightning Trochaic Trimeter

Geschke/British Literature Meter Catalexis Line 2 Of the sunken sun. ΄ ˘ ΄ ˘ ΄ Of the sunken sun. Trochaic Trimeter Catalectic