Poetry Basics

1. Poetry Basics

2. Poetic Structure • A syllable is a single unit of sound. • A foot is the basic unit of poetry made up of a pattern of syllables. • Lines are measured by the number of feet they contain. • Stanzas are formed by connected lines. • Cantos are chapter-like divisions in long poems.

3. Syllables • Syllables are either stressed or not stressed. • In a stressed syllable, the voice is tensed, goes up. • In an unstressed syllable, the voice is relaxed, goes down.

4. Feet • A feet create meter, the pattern of beats or accents. • An iamb is a two-syllable foot of unstressed/stress. • A trochee is a two-syllable foot of stressed/unstressed. • An anapest is a three-syllable foot of unstressed/unstressed/stressed. • A dactyl is a three-syllable foot of stressed/unstressed/unstressed. • A spondee is a two-syllable foot of stressed/stressed.

5. Scansion • When we analyze a poem's rhyme and meter, we are involved in an activity called scansion. We scan the poem to understand its form.

6. Lines • Lines are measured by the number of feet.

7. Stanzas

8. Rhyme • When a poem rhymes, we identify the rhyme sound with letters. Words that rhyme with each other get the same letter. • We start with the first rhyme sound as a, the second sound as b, and so on. • Rhyme scheme is important because some poems have a particular rhyme scheme, such as the English sonnet.

9. Types of Rhymes • End rhyme is formed by words at the end of lines. • Internal rhyme is formed by words within the line. • Masculine rhyme is when the last syllables of feet rhyme • Feminine rhyme is when the penultimate syllables of feet rhyme.

10. Other Poetic Terms • A caesura is a pause within a line. There can be more than one caesura in a line. • When there is a natural pause at the end of the line, usually but not always marked with punctuation, the line is said to be end-stopped. • When a line ends without a pause and the meaning runs into next line, which is referred to as enjambment, the line is said to be a run-on line.

11. Types of Poetry • Narrative poetry tells a story • Lyric poetry presents a personal impression.