Terms for Discussing Terms for Discussing ProsodyProsody

Basic TermsBasic Terms

Prosody: The metrical pronunciation of a Prosody: The metrical pronunciation of a song or poem. song or poem.

Rhythm: A combination of vocal speeds, Rhythm: A combination of vocal speeds,

rises, and falls; in poetry, heavy and light rises, and falls; in poetry, heavy and light stress. Patterns are called "feet." stress. Patterns are called "feet."

Scansion (scan). The process of marking Scansion (scan). The process of marking beats in a poem to establish the prevailing beats in a poem to establish the prevailing metrical pattern. metrical pattern.

Naming Numbers of FeetNaming Numbers of Feet

1.1. One foot: monometer One foot: monometer 2.2. Two feet: dimeter Two feet: dimeter 3.3. Three feet: trimeter Three feet: trimeter 4.4. Four feet: tetrameter Four feet: tetrameter 5.5. Five feet: pentameter Five feet: pentameter 6.6. Six feet: hexameter Six feet: hexameter 7.7. Seven feet: heptameter or the septenary Seven feet: heptameter or the septenary 8.8. Eight feet: octameterEight feet: octameter

Kinds of Feet: Spondaic and Kinds of Feet: Spondaic and PyrrhicPyrrhic

Spondee stressed stressed Spondee stressed stressed

Pyrrhic unstressed unstressed Pyrrhic unstressed unstressed

Kinds of Feet: IambicKinds of Feet: Iambic

1. Iamb/ iambic unstressed stressed 1. Iamb/ iambic unstressed stressed The most natural and common kind in English, this The most natural and common kind in English, this

meter elevates speech to poetry (iambic pentameter) meter elevates speech to poetry (iambic pentameter) Example: Example: The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, The plowman homeward plods his weary way, The plowman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness, and to me. And leaves the world to darkness, and to me. When you say this aloud, what syllables are stressed? When you say this aloud, what syllables are stressed?

Mark them with a “strong” mark (‘) above the syllable.Mark them with a “strong” mark (‘) above the syllable.

Sounding out the RhythmSounding out the Rhythm

The CURfew TOLLS the KNELL of The CURfew TOLLS the KNELL of PARTing DAY, PARTing DAY,

The LOWing HERD wind SLOWly O’ER The LOWing HERD wind SLOWly O’ER the LEA, the LEA,

The PLOWman HOMEward PLODS his The PLOWman HOMEward PLODS his WEARy WAY, WEARy WAY,

And LEAVES the WORLD to DARKness, And LEAVES the WORLD to DARKness, AND to ME.AND to ME.

Kinds of Feet: TrochaicKinds of Feet: Trochaic

2. Trochaic/trochee stressed unstressed 2. Trochaic/trochee stressed unstressed

Example: Example:

Tyger, tyger, burning bright Tyger, tyger, burning bright

In the forest of the night In the forest of the night

What immortal hand or eye What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry? Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Say this quatrain aloud and mark the Say this quatrain aloud and mark the accented syllables. Where are the strong accented syllables. Where are the strong syllables? syllables?

Sounding out the RhythmSounding out the Rhythm

TYger, TYger, BURNing BRIGHT TYger, TYger, BURNing BRIGHT

IN the FORest OF the NIGHT IN the FORest OF the NIGHT

WHAT imMORtal HAND or EYE WHAT imMORtal HAND or EYE

COULD FRAME thy FEARful SYMmetRY?COULD FRAME thy FEARful SYMmetRY?

Kinds of feet: DactylicKinds of feet: Dactylic

3. Dactyl/dactylic 3. Dactyl/dactylic stressed unstressed unstressed stressed unstressed unstressed Example: Example: This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and

the hemlocks, the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct

in the twilight, in the twilight, Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic. Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic.

Say the first line aloud and mark the stressed Say the first line aloud and mark the stressed syllables. syllables.

Sounding out the RhythmSounding out the Rhythm

THIS is the FORest primEVal. The THIS is the FORest primEVal. The MURmuring PINES and the HEMlocks,MURmuring PINES and the HEMlocks,

Kinds of Feet: AnapesticKinds of Feet: Anapestic

4. Anapest/ anapestic unstressed unstressed 4. Anapest/ anapestic unstressed unstressed stressed stressed

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, care,

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. Say this aloud and mark the stressed syllables.Say this aloud and mark the stressed syllables.

Sounding out the RhythmSounding out the Rhythm

'Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas 'Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas and ALL through the HOUSE, and ALL through the HOUSE,

Not a CREAture was STIRring, not EVen Not a CREAture was STIRring, not EVen a MOUSE. a MOUSE.

The stockings were hung by the The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, chimney with care,

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be therewould be there

ExamplesExamples

Try to figure out the meter for each Try to figure out the meter for each selection, and then we’ll go on to the selection, and then we’ll go on to the next slide, where the answer will be next slide, where the answer will be given.given.

Example 1Example 1

1. Go, and catch a falling star, 1. Go, and catch a falling star,

Get with child a mandrake root Get with child a mandrake root

Tell me where all past years are, Tell me where all past years are,

Or who cleft the Devil's foot . . . Or who cleft the Devil's foot . . .

--John Donne, “Song”--John Donne, “Song”

Answer to Example 1Answer to Example 1

Trochaic tetrameter. Notice the Trochaic tetrameter. Notice the words that are emphasized: words that are emphasized:

Line 1: Go, catch, fall, star Line 1: Go, catch, fall, star Line 2: Get, child, man, rootLine 2: Get, child, man, root

Example 2Example 2

Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw-- the Hidden Paw--

For he's the master criminal who can For he's the master criminal who can defy the law. defy the law.

He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair: the Flying Squad's despair:

For when they reach the scene of the For when they reach the scene of the crime-Macavity's not there! crime-Macavity's not there!

Answer to Example 2Answer to Example 2

Iambic heptameter (or the Iambic heptameter (or the septenary). Note the stresses: septenary). Note the stresses: MaCAViTY’s the MYStery CAT: he’s MaCAViTY’s the MYStery CAT: he’s CALLED the HIDden PAW. “Mystery” CALLED the HIDden PAW. “Mystery” is pronounced like “mystry” here. is pronounced like “mystry” here.

This type of seven-stress line is often This type of seven-stress line is often used in children’s poems or used in children’s poems or humorous poems. humorous poems.

Example 3Example 3

'Tis the voice of the Lobster: I heard 'Tis the voice of the Lobster: I heard him declare him declare

"You have baked me too brown, I must "You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair." sugar my hair."

As a duck with its eyelids, so he with As a duck with its eyelids, so he with his nose his nose

Trims his belt and buttons, and turns Trims his belt and buttons, and turns out his toes. out his toes.

Answer to Example 3Answer to Example 3

Anapestic tetrameter. ‘Tis the VOICE Anapestic tetrameter. ‘Tis the VOICE of the LOBster: I HEARD him of the LOBster: I HEARD him deCLARE. deCLARE.

If you listen to the rhythm, it sounds If you listen to the rhythm, it sounds just like “’Twas the Night Before just like “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which is written in the Christmas,” which is written in the

same meter.same meter.

Example 4Example 4

By the shores of Gitche-Gumee, By the shores of Gitche-Gumee,

By the shining Big-Sea-Water By the shining Big-Sea-Water

Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,

Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis. Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

Dark behind it rose the forest, Dark behind it rose the forest,

Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees

Rose the firs with cones upon them. Rose the firs with cones upon them.

Answer to Example 4Answer to Example 4

Trochaic tetrameter. BY the SHORES of Trochaic tetrameter. BY the SHORES of GITCHe-GUmee / BY the SHINing BIG-sea-GITCHe-GUmee / BY the SHINing BIG-sea-Water Water

This is trochaic tetrameter with the last This is trochaic tetrameter with the last syllable added. You’ll recall that Blake’s syllable added. You’ll recall that Blake’s “The Tyger” had the last syllable of the “The Tyger” had the last syllable of the line omitted (“Tyger! Tyger! Burning line omitted (“Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright”). The example here is a much bright”). The example here is a much more sing-song rhythm as a result of more sing-song rhythm as a result of having that final syllable.having that final syllable.

Example 5Example 5

How say that by law we may torture How say that by law we may torture and chase and chase

A woman whose crime is the hue of A woman whose crime is the hue of her face?- her face?-

With her step on the ice and her arm With her step on the ice and her arm on her child, on her child,

The danger was fearful, the pathway The danger was fearful, the pathway was wild. . . . was wild. . . .

Answer to Example 5Answer to Example 5

Anapestic tetrameter, although this meter Anapestic tetrameter, although this meter varies somewhat. How SAY that by LAW varies somewhat. How SAY that by LAW we may TORture and CHASE / A WOman we may TORture and CHASE / A WOman whose CRIME is the HUE of her FACE? whose CRIME is the HUE of her FACE?

This serious poem makes use of galloping This serious poem makes use of galloping meter because it deals with a mother meter because it deals with a mother escaping from slavery. She is pursued as escaping from slavery. She is pursued as she crosses the river into freedom. The she crosses the river into freedom. The meter gives the rhythm of the poem a meter gives the rhythm of the poem a sense of urgency.sense of urgency.