Types of Poetic Meter

Understanding different types of poetic meter helps you appreciate the rhythm and flow in poetry. Each meter has its unique pattern, influencing how a poem feels and sounds, making it essential for your English 9 studies.

1. Iambic

   • Consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM).
   • Commonly used in English poetry, especially in sonnets and plays.
   • Creates a natural rhythm that mimics everyday speech.
   • Famous examples include Shakespeare's works and many sonnets.

2. Trochaic

   • Composed of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (DA-dum).
   • Often creates a more forceful and emphatic rhythm.
   • Frequently used in nursery rhymes and folk songs.
   • Examples include "The Song of Hiawatha" by Longfellow.

3. Anapestic

   • Made up of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (da-da-DUM).
   • Produces a galloping rhythm, often conveying excitement or movement.
   • Commonly found in light verse and comic poetry.
   • Notable examples include "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.

4. Dactylic

   • Consists of a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (DA-da-dum).
   • Creates a grand and sweeping rhythm, often used in epic poetry.
   • Can evoke a sense of urgency or drama.
   • Examples include "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

5. Spondaic

   • Composed of two stressed syllables (DA-DA).
   • Used sparingly, often to emphasize a particular moment or emotion.
   • Can create a heavy, weighty effect in poetry.
   • Examples can be found in works that require strong emphasis, such as in some lines of "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot.

6. Pyrrhic

   • Consists of two unstressed syllables (da-da).
   • Rarely used in isolation; often appears within a larger metrical pattern.
   • Can create subtle shifts in rhythm and tone.
   • Typically found in more complex poetic structures, adding nuance to the overall meter.