GUIDE TO POETIC METER

All Achaean speech is composed of stressed and unstressed syllables. Stressed

syllables are emphasised, usually louder and higher in pitch and with more

vocal pressure. Nearly all words have fixed stresses. I will indicate stressed

syllables in this resource by capitalising them.

Think of the word 'Virtuosi.' The stresses are on the first and third syllables

- VIR tu O si. You would never say vir TU o SI. Say that in your head - isn't

it weird? My name is always pronounced LAE-da, not lae-DA.

In poetry, some poems use fixed metre, meaning they follow a pattern of

stressed and unstressed syllables. Even when a poetic form isn't fixed, it's

important to consider stressing. You can speed up or slow down a poem based on

using different metres at different points in the poem. Typically, a poem with

regular metre will be faster. Changes in metre will slow the poem down or

create a pause, especially when a syllables is missing from within a regular

metre.


*TYPES OF METRE*

1. IAMB/IAMBIC: Unstressed, stressed - duh DUH duh DUH duh DUH
The metre of a heartbeat, and the most common poetic metre.
Example: the LORD of E-vil, SARtan

2. TROCHEE/TROCHAIC: Stressed, unstressed - DUH duh DUH duh DUH duh
Often harsh and intense, like marching.
Example: PHAE-stus, SCULP-tor OF the EARTH

3. ANAPEST/ANAPESTIC: Unstressed, unstressed, stressed - duh duh DUH
Creates the feel of triplets, like hoofbeats.
Val-nu-RA-na is LA-dy of DREAMS

4. DACTYL/DACTYLIC: Stressed, unstressed, unstressed - DUH duh duh
Creates the feel of triplets, often more intense than anapests.
Example: KHAL-as the WAN-der-er

5. SPONDEE: DUH DUH
Extra stressed syllables added in that force a slow, heavy pause.
HAIL, HAIL, HAIL LORD Deu-CA-lion. (Three spondees followed by two trochees.)



*LINE LENGTH*

The number of stressed syllables per line determines the other part of the

meter.

1. TRIMETER – three per line
Example: Iambic trimeter in "As the Seasons Turn," by Christelle

The MERchants NEED not THIEVES,
For THEIR great BOUNty COMES
They WISEly USE their GOLD
To BOLster PROfit SUMS.

2. TETRAMETER – four per line
Example: Iambic tetrameter in "A Marshy Poem; C-Minor" by Agrias.

The SENaTORS, uPON their STEEDS,
ComMANded WITH a DESperate CREED.

3. PENTAMETER – five per line

4. HEXAMETER – six per line



*NOTES*

Many poems do not maintain exactly the same metre throughout. Some change

metres regularly, others have no discernable metre, others maintain one metre

but have lines of varying lengths, or have lines with the same number of

stressed syllables but not organized in regular patterns.

If you are writing a poem in a particular form, meeting the metre requirements

is important, especially for path work. Very slight irregularities are fine,

but fitting the form is an important part of learning. If you are writing

outside a regular form, what's most important is that you are thoughtful and

consider how the metre will best communicate the ideas and mood.

Examples below of various types of irregularities:



From "A Song of Mhaldor," by Herenicus. Iambic tetrameter alternates with

iambic trimeter. An alternating metre creates pauses at the end of the shorter

lines because you essentially have a "missing" stressed syllable.

He climbs above a sanguine sea,
He greets the ruddy dawn,
A fearsome fog, that crimson smog,
About His feet is drawn.

The waves wash o'er His battered shore,
And lap against the bones,
Where broken men met with defeat,
And fell from foreign thrones.