Scansion 101 by Shmoop
Scansion 101: Understanding Rhythm in Poetry
Introduction to Scansion
- Human beings are naturally inclined towards rhythm, which we find in various aspects of life, including poetry.
- Scansion is the technique used to analyze a poem's meter and rhythm by identifying stressed and unstressed syllables.
- The concept of "feet" in poetry refers to patterns of accented or unaccented syllables, not physical feet.
Types of Meters
- Common meters include:
- Iambic Meter: Unstressed followed by stressed (rising).
- Anapestic Meter: Two unstressed followed by one stressed (rising).
- Trochaic Meter: Stressed followed by unstressed (falling).
- Dactylic Meter: One stressed followed by two unstressed (falling).
- Spondaic meter consists only of stressed syllables, while pyrrhic meter consists only of unstressed syllables; both serve to disrupt rhythm rather than create it.
Line Length and Metrical Description
- Line lengths are categorized as follows:
- Monometer (1 foot)
- Dimeter (2 feet)
- Trimeter (3 feet)
- To describe a poem's meter, combine the type of meter with the line length for terms like "iambic pentameter."
Application of Scansion
- Example from Shakespeare’s Richard III demonstrates iambic pentameter with five feet per line.
- Longfellow’s The Song of Hiawatha illustrates trochaic tetrameter with four feet per line.
Importance of Scansion
- Understanding scansion enhances our appreciation for poetry beyond mere enjoyment; it reveals how poems should be read aloud.