Poetry Basics : Poetry Basics : ScansionScansion

General Poetry TermsGeneral Poetry Terms MeterMeter (British English spelling: (British English spelling: metremetre) )

describes the linguistic sound patterns of describes the linguistic sound patterns of a verse. a verse.

ScansionScansion is the analysis of poetry's is the analysis of poetry's metrical and rhythmic patterns. metrical and rhythmic patterns.

ProsodyProsody is sometimes used to describe is sometimes used to describe poetic meter, and indicates the analysis poetic meter, and indicates the analysis of similar aspects of language in of similar aspects of language in linguistics. linguistics.

Meter is part of many formal verse forms.Meter is part of many formal verse forms.

LinesLines

The traditional definition of poetry is any written composition The traditional definition of poetry is any written composition that is deliberately separated into lines. Therefore, the line that is deliberately separated into lines. Therefore, the line is one of the poet’s most powerful tools in developing is one of the poet’s most powerful tools in developing meaning.meaning.

Linear patternsLinear patterns that occur in the line are found primarily in that occur in the line are found primarily in how the line ends. Linear pattern looks at whether the line is how the line ends. Linear pattern looks at whether the line is end-stopped or enjambed (referred to as enjambment). end-stopped or enjambed (referred to as enjambment).

Linear PatternsLinear Patterns An An end-stopped lineend-stopped line ends with hard punctuation, typically a period, ends with hard punctuation, typically a period,

comma, dash or semi-colon. comma, dash or semi-colon. from from “A Poison Tree” “A Poison Tree”

I was angry with my friend:I was angry with my friend:I told my wrath, my wrath did end.I told my wrath, my wrath did end.I was angry with my foe:I was angry with my foe:I told it not, my wrath did grow.I told it not, my wrath did grow.--William Blake--William Blake

Enjambed linesEnjambed lines break the phrase and often contain internal break the phrase and often contain internal punctuation.punctuation.

from “Annabell Lee”from “Annabell Lee”It was many and It was many and many a year ago, in many a year ago, in a kingdom by a kingdom by the sea, that a maiden there the sea, that a maiden there lived whom you may lived whom you may know by the name of know by the name of ANNABEL LEE;--ANNABEL LEE;---- Edgar Allan Poe-- Edgar Allan Poe

RhymRhymee

From “To the City of Bombay”

The Cities are full of pride,Challenging each to each --This from her mountain-side,That from her burthened beach.

They count their ships full tale --Their corn and oil and wine,Derrick and loom and bale,And rampart's gun-flecked line;City by City they hail:"Hast aught to match with mine?“

And the men that breed from themThey traffic up and down,But cling to their cities' hemAs a child to their mother's gown.

-- Rudyard Kipling

ABAB

CDCDCD

EFEF

MeterMeterThe The metrical "feet"metrical "feet" in the classical languages in the classical languages

were based on the length of time taken to were based on the length of time taken to pronounce each syllable, which were pronounce each syllable, which were categorized according to their weight as either categorized according to their weight as either "long" syllables or "short" syllables (also known "long" syllables or "short" syllables (also known as "heavy" and "light" syllables, respectively, as "heavy" and "light" syllables, respectively, to distinguish from long and short vowels). to distinguish from long and short vowels).

Meter Meter in poetryin poetry is typically described by is typically described by identifying the identifying the dominantdominant type of foot and the type of foot and the number of feet per line (e.g. iambic number of feet per line (e.g. iambic pentameter).pentameter).

FeetFeet FootFoot:: One stressed syllable plus the One stressed syllable plus the

unstressed syllable(s) that go with itunstressed syllable(s) that go with it

Repetitions of feet patterns creates Repetitions of feet patterns creates rhythmrhythm

Feet are notated with:Feet are notated with:

/ / = = Stressed SyllableStressed Syllable

= Unstressed Syllable= Unstressed Syllable

FeetFeet

Ta – DAH

La – Ti – DAH

DOH - Tee

DOH – Tee – Doh

DOH - DOH

i – AM

an - uh - PEST

TRO - kay

DAK – til - ick

SPON - DAY

FOOT NOUN ADJECTIVE

/ Iamb Iambic

/ Anapest Anapestic

/ Trochee Trochaic

/ Dactyl Dactylic

/ / Spondee Spondaic

Scanning a lineScanning a line

Scan for the number of feet in the line:

Let’s go to the store and buy some more.

/ / / /

/ / /

| | |

Feet per LineFeet per LineFEET PER

LINEPREFIX NAME

1 Mono Monometer

2 Di Dimeter

3 Tri Trimeter

4 Tetra Tetrameter

5 Penta Pentameter

6 Hex Hexameter

7 Hep Heptameter

8 Oct Octameter

StanzaStanza StanzaStanza: two or more : two or more

lines of poetry that lines of poetry that together form one of together form one of the divisions of a the divisions of a poem. poem.

The stanzas of a poem The stanzas of a poem are usually of the are usually of the same length and follow same length and follow the same pattern of the same pattern of meter and rhyme, meter and rhyme, creating a creating a stanzaic stanzaic patternpattern..

While there are often While there are often lines separating lines separating stanzas, this is not stanzas, this is not always the case. always the case. Sometimes rhyme Sometimes rhyme patterns are helpful in patterns are helpful in determining stanza determining stanza breaks in a poem breaks in a poem without stanza breaks.without stanza breaks.

NAME# of LINES per stanza

Couplet 2 lines

Tercet 3 lines

Quatrain 4 lines

Cinquain 5 lines

Sestet 6 lines

Septet 7 lines

Octave 8 lines

What meter is this?What meter is this?

Peter, Peter pumpkin-eater

Had a wife and couldn't keep her.

Peter, Peter pumpkin-eater Had a wife and couldn't keep her.

Peter, / Peter / pumpkin- / eater

Had a / wife and / couldn't / keep her.

trochee

tetrameter

trochaic tetrameter

Orange is the stressed syllable (/)

/

/

/

/

//

/ /

What meter is this?What meter is this?The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold

anapest

tetrameter

anapestic tetrameter

The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold

The Assyr / ian came down / like a wolf / on the fold

And his co / horts were gleam / ing in pur / ple and gold

////

////

What meter is this?What meter is this?Picture your self in a boat on a river with

tangerine tree-ees and marmalade skii-ii-es.

dactyl

tetrameter

dactylic tetrameter

Picture your self in a boat on a river with

tangerine tree-ees and marmalade skii-ii-es.

Picture your / self in a / boat on a / river with

tangerine / tree-ees and / marmalade / skii-ii-es.

/ /

// /

//

/

What meter is this?What meter is this?It is an ancyent Marinere,

And he stoppeth one of three:

"By thy long grey beard and thy glittering eye

"Now wherefore stoppest me?

It is / an anc / yent Mar / in ere,

And he stopp / eth one / of three:

"By thy long / grey beard / and thy glitt / er ing eye

"Now where / fore stopp / est me?

Line 1: iambic tetrameter

Line 2: foot 1 = anapestic; feet 2 & 3 = iambic# of feet = trimeter

Line 3: feet 1, 3, & 4 = anapestic

foot 2 = iambic# of feet =

tetrameteriambic

tetrameter

Line 4: iambic trimeter

Other Basic TerminologyOther Basic Terminology

TurnTurn or or ShiftShift: a shifting of focus, : a shifting of focus, either in topic or tone, within a poemeither in topic or tone, within a poem

RefrainRefrain: repetition of a line or lines : repetition of a line or lines within a poem. In musical lyrics, we within a poem. In musical lyrics, we call the refrain that call the refrain that choruschorus..

The end . . . for nowThe end . . . for now

TTPP--CCAASSTTTT

T-title:T-title: The meaning of the title without reference to the poem. The meaning of the title without reference to the poem. P-paraphrase:P-paraphrase: Put the poem, line by line, in your own words. Put the poem, line by line, in your own words. DO DO

NOT READ INTO THE POEM.NOT READ INTO THE POEM. Only read on surface level.Only read on surface level. C-connotation:C-connotation: looking for deeper meaning. looking for deeper meaning.

Diction and symbolism Diction and symbolism Imagery Imagery Metaphors and similes Metaphors and similes Rhyme scheme Rhyme scheme End rhymes and internal rhymes End rhymes and internal rhymes End stop End stop Enjambment Enjambment Alliteration Alliteration Assonance Assonance Consonance Consonance Mood Mood Allusions Allusions Punctuation Punctuation Personification Personification

A-attitude:A-attitude: Looking for the author’s tone. How is the writer Looking for the author’s tone. How is the writer speaking?speaking?

S-shifts:S-shifts: Looking for shifts in tone, action, and rhythm. Don’t just Looking for shifts in tone, action, and rhythm. Don’t just write the number. Discuss how the shift(s) affects the poem.write the number. Discuss how the shift(s) affects the poem.

T-title:T-title: reevaluate the title as it pertains to the poem reevaluate the title as it pertains to the poem T-theme:T-theme: What does the poem mean? What is it saying? How What does the poem mean? What is it saying? How

does it relate to life?does it relate to life?

FormsForms Generally, the form of a poem involves the way it is Generally, the form of a poem involves the way it is

visually arranged on the page. The number of visually arranged on the page. The number of stanzas, rhyme scheme, traditional pattern (if any), stanzas, rhyme scheme, traditional pattern (if any), spacing, refrain, stanzaic breaks, and other such spacing, refrain, stanzaic breaks, and other such qualities can give important clues to the overall qualities can give important clues to the overall meaning of the poem.meaning of the poem.

Stanza: Stanza: a group of lines set apart from the rest of a group of lines set apart from the rest of the poem by white space above and belowthe poem by white space above and below

SONNET 1

FROM fairest creatures we desire increase,

That thereby beauty's rose might never die,

But as the riper should by time decease,

His tender heir might bear his memory:

But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes,

Feed'st thy light'st flame with self-substantial fuel,

Making a famine where abundance lies,

Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel.

Thou that art now the world's fresh ornament

And only herald to the gaudy spring,

Within thine own bud buriest thy content

And, tender churl, makest waste in niggarding.

Pity the world, or else this glutton be,

To eat the world's due, by the grave and thee.

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

/ / / / /

From fair est creat

ures we des ire in

crease

/ / / / /

That there by beauty’

s rosemigh

t nev er die

/ / / / /

But as the rip ershoul

d in time decrea

se

MetersMeters

Iambic pentameter (Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus; Edna St. Vincent Millay,

Sonnets) Dactylic hexameter (Homer, Illiad; Virgil, Aenead, Ovid, "

The Metamorphoses") Iambic tetrameter (Alexander Pope; Andrew Marvell, "

To His Coy Mistress") Iambic heptameter (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Trochaic octameter (Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven") Anapestic tetrameter (Lewis Carroll, "The Hunting of the Snark";

Lord Byron, Don Juan) Trochaic tetrameter (many hymns)

Ballad:Ballad: a narrative poem that is a narrative poem that is characterized by repetition and often by a characterized by repetition and often by a repeated refrain (recurrent phrase or series repeated refrain (recurrent phrase or series of phrases). Ballads were originally meant to of phrases). Ballads were originally meant to be sung. In its usual form, the ballad stanza be sung. In its usual form, the ballad stanza consists of a quatrain with four beats in the consists of a quatrain with four beats in the first and third lines (iambic tetrameter) and first and third lines (iambic tetrameter) and three beats in the second and fourth which three beats in the second and fourth which also rhyme (iambic trimester). Traditional also rhyme (iambic trimester). Traditional ballad subjects include murder, love, ballad subjects include murder, love, revenge, shipwrecks, and the supernatural. revenge, shipwrecks, and the supernatural.