Poetry is a form of art that uses language to create rhythmic patterns and evoke emotions. One of the elements that contributes to the rhythm of poetry is meter.
Meter is the basic rhythmic structure of a line within a poem or poetic work. It consists of the number of syllables and the pattern of emphasis on those syllables.
Different types of meter have different names, such as iambic pentameter, trochaic tetrameter, anapestic trimeter, and so on.
These names indicate how many metrical feet are in a line and what kind of metrical foot is used. A metrical foot is a unit of rhythm that consists of one stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllables.
In this article, we will explore some of the most common types of poetic meter and how they are used in poetry.
Iambic Pentameter
Iambic pentameter is a type of poetic meter, which is a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm in a poem.
In iambic pentameter, each line consists of ten syllables, with the stress falling on every other syllable. This creates a rhythmic pattern that sounds like “da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM.”
Each “da-DUM” represents one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.
Here’s an example of iambic pentameter:
“Shall I com-PARE thee TO a SUM-mer’s DAY?
Thou ART more LOVELY and more TEM-per-ATE.”
In this example, each line has ten syllables, with the stress falling on the second and fourth syllables, and so on. This creates the iambic pentameter rhythm.
More example:
The world is full of won-der-ful things,
That fill our hearts with joy and love that rings.
The birds that sing up-on the trees so tall,
The sun that shines to warm and light us all.
The wind that blows and dances through our hair,
The flow’rs that bloom and scent the fragrant air.
And though some days may bring us tears and pain,
The world is full of won-der yet again.
Iambic pentameter is a common meter in English poetry, and is often used in sonnets, blank verse, and other forms of poetry.
It can create a sense of rhythm, flow, and musicality in the poem, and is often used to convey emotions or ideas in a powerful way.
Trochaic Tetrameter
Trochaic tetrameter is a type of poetic meter, which is a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm in a poem.
In trochaic tetrameter, each line has eight syllables, with the stress falling on the first syllable and then every other syllable after that.
This creates a rhythmic pattern that sounds like “DUM-da, DUM-da, DUM-da, DUM-da.” Each “DUM” represents one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.
Here’s an example of trochaic tetrameter:
“Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!”
In this example, each line has eight syllables, with the stress falling on the first syllable and then every other syllable after that. This creates the trochaic tetrameter rhythm.
Trochaic tetrameter is often used in poetry to create a lively, upbeat rhythm that can convey excitement, energy, or a sense of urgency. It can also be used to create a sense of repetition or refrain, as the same rhythmic pattern is repeated throughout the poem.
Example, from the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare:
Double, double toil and trouble,
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog.
Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing.
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Above poem follows the trochaic tetrameter meter, with each line consisting of eight syllables and the stress falling on the first syllable and every other syllable after that. The poem creates a lively, energetic rhythm that conveys the sense of magic and mischief that is present in the play.
Anapestic trimeter
Anapestic trimeter is a type of poetic meter, which is a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm in a poem. In anapestic trimeter, each line has three metrical feet, or sets of three syllables, with the stress falling on the third syllable of each foot.
This creates a rhythmic pattern that sounds like “da-da-DUM, da-da-DUM, da-da-DUM.” Each “da-da-DUM” represents two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable.
Here’s an example of anapestic trimeter:
“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”
In this example, each line has three metrical feet, with the stress falling on the third syllable of each foot. This creates the anapestic trimeter rhythm.
Anapestic trimeter is often used in poetry to create a lighthearted, bouncy rhythm that can convey a sense of playfulness or humor. It can also be used to create a sense of movement or momentum, as the quick, repetitive rhythm propels the poem forward.
More example from poem titled “A Flea and a Fly in a Flue” by Ogden Nash
A flea and a fly in a flue
Were imprisoned, so what could they do?
Said the fly, “Let us flee!”
“Let us fly!” said the flea.
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
It has three metrical feet per line, with each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable, creating the anapestic trimeter rhythm. The playful and humorous poem tells a story of two insects trapped in a flue and their attempt to escape through a flaw in the flue.
Trochaic tetrameter
Trochaic tetrameter is a type of poetic meter, which is a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm in a poem.
In trochaic tetrameter, each line has four metrical feet, or sets of two syllables, with the stress falling on the first syllable of each foot.
This creates a rhythmic pattern that sounds like “DUM-da, DUM-da, DUM-da, DUM-da.” Each “DUM-da” represents one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.
Here’s an example of trochaic tetrameter:
“Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
This is an excerpt from the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake. The poem follows the trochaic tetrameter meter, with each line consisting of eight syllables and the stress falling on the first syllable of each foot. The poem creates a strong and steady rhythm that conveys the sense of power and majesty associated with the tiger.
Trochaic tetrameter is often used in poetry to create a strong and steady rhythm that can convey a sense of power, confidence, or authority. It can also be used to create a sense of urgency or excitement, as the quick, repetitive rhythm propels the poem forward.
