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trying to figure out meter
| Critical Analysis #2 |
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trying to figure out meter |
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Copperbell Senior Member
since 2003-11-08
Posts 956 |
Okay, I bought a book that I could learn about meter, how to do it, what it is, etc. By the way, it defines what a poem is (which is awesome, because as I thought my poetry isn't poetry just because I want to call it that - technically anyway) But I need some help. I'm going to put some stuff in here and I'm wondering if someone could pick the meter apart for me. I'm aiming for iambic here. (is this iambic? haha) Love burns my heart as though I were on fire (iambic?) Days solitude, hours lonliness (is this anything?) I tend to go by syllables, and I can't tell if this is iambic or not Okay, enough for now. I feel a little silly, but I want to learn - thanks for anyone's reply.  |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
Here is how I scan your first example (others may see it differently) when I read it as I naturally would speak. LOVE BURNS / my HEART / as THOUGH / I WERE / on FIRE Notice that I want to stress the first as well as the second syllable, making it a spondaic foot. Love is the key word in the line and, as such, it is not natural for it to be unstressed. This can be an acceptable variation in an otherwise iambic line. It tends to break up the monotony as well as produce emphasis. Used sparingly and in the proper context, it can be a good thing. Speaking of context, when actually put into some context, the line in question might well be truly iambic. That brings us to your second example. As is, I really get no particular metric feel from it. Yes, you can (and someone probably will) force it into something that has a name. But it will not be a meter commonly used. Again though, when put into some context, it may well develop a more metric feel. Hope this helps a little. Pete BTW, I should add, now that you have your book on meter, the way to understanding is to read lots of poetry. Try to figure out what meter, if any, the author used and why. It shouldn't take long before you can just feel it at work without having to analyze. |
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Copperbell Senior Member
since 2003-11-08
Posts 956 |
Thanks. I think I will try to read more poetry to get a feel for it. Another question, I notice you are from Oklahoma, would a person's accent affect the meter? |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
And I am looking for an audio tape that illustrates meter. Does anybody know if such a thing exists? |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Serenity, I did a little looking, and haven't been able to locate anything yet. However, if you want to listen to metered poetry being read aloud, try this link... http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/donnebib.htm It may be of some help.  |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Shivers - it defined what a poem was? Well, that gives me grave cause for alarm... That's all I have to say - meter and I don't get along lol.  K |
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Jamie Member Elite
since 2000-06-26
Posts 3168Blue Heaven |
Water Meter - measuring device that allows the water/sewer department to raid my bank account Power Meter - see above, insert power company Thermo Meter- tells me how to dress for the day Speedo Meter - saves my butt from sure speeding tickets Poetry Meter?-- makes me slobber on myself trying to read properly JThere is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar. |
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Copperbell Senior Member
since 2003-11-08
Posts 956 |
Hmmm, is it then a matter of opinion? This book defines it as "the expression of thoughts which awake the higher and nobler emotions or their opposites, in words whose rythm tends toward uniformity or regularity, rather than toward variety." It does say the rythm of prose tends toward variety and poetry toward regularity...I don't know - I just don't think every short thing I write is considered a poem, just because I want to call it that - (I have books of it!) I want to know what makes it a poem as compared to prose - as compared to short statements. If the above definition is true, then maybe a big part of it is how people respond to it. Jamie - |
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gourdmad Member
since 2003-12-01
Posts 136Upper Ohio Valley |
kilometer - dogmatic free versers centimeter - forced rhythms that are bad millimeter - poems ground to dust fitting them into meter nanometer - the lowest level at which meter may be preceived |
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cynicsRus Senior Member
since 2003-06-06
Posts 591So Cal So Cool! |
quote: As Pete noted, without a definite context, your second example is hard to pin down as a particular metric foot. But if I were forced to pick one, I’d be inclined to read it in a natural breath and would have to say Spondee on that as well. When going for a particular metric form, such as Iambic tetrameter, (four beats per foot), it’s desirable to add a bit of variation to keep it from sounding too mechanical, i.e.,. “Tuh Dum, Tuh Dum” The fixed forms are good practice, but you should attempt to make a poem your own, initially by placing your words in the best possible order. Keep in mind that the reader will be inclined to read the lines naturally, and not necessarily conform to your idea of whatever pattern you think it is supposed to be. Sid @ www.cynicsRus.com |
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Copperbell Senior Member
since 2003-11-08
Posts 956 |
Thanks guys - I appreciate the feedback - I do feel that I learned something here - along with a few laughs. |
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