Elements of Poetry
Overview
Syllables
Meters
Line Groupings
What's In A Word
Meters
Meter
refers to the rhythm or beat of the poem. It is determined by the pattern of accents and non-accents placed on the syllables of the words in the lines.
Line length - by the number of metrical feet
| Line name | Number of feet in line |
|---|---|
| monometer | 1 metrical foot, any meter |
| dimeter | 2 metrical feet, any meter |
| trimeter | 3 metrical feet, any meter |
| tetrameter | 4 metrical feet, any meter |
| pentameter | 5 metrical feet, any meter |
| hexameter | 6 metrical feet, any meter |
| heptameter | 7 metrical feet, any meter |
| octameter | 8 metrical feet, any meter |
Patterns of Metrical Feet
| Meter (Foot Name) | Syllables and Accent Pattern | Mood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iambic (Iamb, Iambus) | 2 | · - | highly variable |
| Trochaic (Trochee) | 2 | - · | tripping movement |
| Spondaic (Spondee) | 2 | - - | |
| Anapestic (Anapest) | 3 | · · - | galloping and gay |
| Dactylic (Dactyl) | 3 | - · · | slower, sad, melancholic |
| Amphibrachic (Amphibrach) | 3 | · - · | |
| Paeon (Paeon) | 4 | - · · · | |
Meter Regularity
Regular Meters are predictable. The lines contain feet of one type of meter. You know the pace of what is coming next
(e.g. iambic pentameter - 5 foot line, all iambic feet.)
Irregular Meters are less predictable. The lines contain varying metrical feet. They can be used to add interest to a piece of poetry. It is akin to varying the tempo or beat in a piece of music.
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