In
Poetry,
Meter refers to the rhythmic structure of a poem, and is created through the repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables. Here are six types of meter in poetry, along with examples:
Iambic: This type of
Meter Consists of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables, with the pattern "da-DUM." It is often used in English poetry.
Example: "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?" (William Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet")
Trochaic: This type of meter consists of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables, with the pattern "DUM-da." It is often used in English poetry.
Example: "Tell all the truth but tell it slant" (Emily Dickinson, "Tell all the truth but tell it slant")
Anapestic: This type of meter consists of three-syllable feet, with the pattern "da-da-DUM." It is often used in English poetry.
Example: "The bells of heaven ring out the tidings / That God is reconciled" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Christmas Bells")
Dactylic: This type of meter consists of three-syllable feet, with the pattern "DUM-da-da." It is often used in Greek and Latin poetry.
Example: "Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris" (Vergil, "The Aeneid")
Spondaic: This type of meter consists of two stressed syllables in a row. It is often used in Greek and Latin poetry.
Example: "I sing the song of him who loved not wisely but too well" (William Shakespeare, "Othello")
- Pyrrhic: This type of meter consists of two unstressed syllables in a row. It is often used in Greek and Latin poetry.
Example: "I wandered lonely as a cloud" (William Wordsworth, "Daffodils")
Here are a few references that may be helpful for learning more about meter in poetry:
"The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics" edited by Alex Preminger and T.V.F. Brogan: This comprehensive reference work includes a detailed explanation of meter in poetry, along with examples and analysis.
"The Art of Poetry" by Paul Muldoon: This book offers a thorough introduction to the elements of poetry, including meter and rhyme.
"The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry" by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux: This practical guide includes tips on writing with meter and rhythm, along with exercises and examples.
"The Sound of Poetry, The Poetry of Sound" by Marjorie Perloff: This book explores the role of sound in poetry, including the use of meter and rhyme.
