Definition of Meter

Meter is the rhythm established by a poem, and it is usually dependent not only on the number of syllables in a line but also on the way those syllables are accented. This rhythm is often described as a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The rhythmic unit is often described as a foot; patterns of feet can be identified and labeled. A foot may be iambic, which follows a pattern of unstressed/stressed syllables. For example, read aloud: "The DOG went WALKing DOWN the ROAD and BARKED." Because there are five iambs, or feet, this line follows the conventions of iambic pentameter (pent = five), the common form in Shakespeare's time. Stressed syllables are conventionally labeled with a "/" mark and unstressed syllables with a "U" mark.

METER EXERCISE

Meter can be awfully technical, and you can get confused trying to sort out a spondee from a dactyl. (Those aren't dinosaur names.) To be attuned to meter, though, you should probably concentrate first on the internal "beat" of a poem and add the scientific terms later. A guitar teacher might insist that you tap your feet rather than learn to play with a metronome. The same advice may be applied to reading poetry: understand a poem's metrical logic, then get technical, if necessary.

Instructions

Scan the meter of the poem below by selecting "/" for stressed syllables and "U" for unstressed syllables in the pull-down menu below each syllable.

"I'm Happiest When Most Away" by Emily Brontë

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