writing about literature

Writing About LiteratureWriting About Literature

12 Rhythm and Rhyme12 Rhythm and Rhyme

Rhythm Rhythm

A strong regular repeated pattern of movement A strong regular repeated pattern of movement

or soundor sound

SourcesSources

From the Oxford English Dictionary ldquomarked by the From the Oxford English Dictionary ldquomarked by the

regulated succession of strong and weak elements or regulated succession of strong and weak elements or

of opposite or different conditionsrdquoof opposite or different conditionsrdquo

From Latin From Latin rhythmusrhythmus ldquomovement in timerdquo ldquomovement in timerdquo

From Greek From Greek rhythmos rhythmos ldquomeasured flow or movementrdquoldquomeasured flow or movementrdquo

Meter Meter

A pattern of stressedA pattern of stressed syllables alternating syllables alternating

in regular intervals with syllables of less in regular intervals with syllables of less

stressstress

The basic rhythmic structure of poetryThe basic rhythmic structure of poetry

Compositions written in meter are said to Compositions written in meter are said to

be in be in verseverse

Foot Foot

Each unit of stressed and unstressed Each unit of stressed and unstressed

syllables is called a syllables is called a footfoot

Foot type Style Stress pattern Syllable count

Iamb Iambic Unstressed + Stressed Two

Trochee Trochaic Stressed + Unstressed Two

Spondee Spondaic Stressed + Stressed Two

Anapest Anapestic Unstressed + Unstressed + Stressed Three

Dactyl Dactylic Stressed + Unstressed + Unstressed Three

Amphibrach Amphibrachic Unstressed + Stressed + Unstressed Three

Pyrrhic Pyrrhic Unstressed + Unstressed Two

Foot ExamplesFoot Examples

Some but not all feet can be represented Some but not all feet can be represented

with single wordswith single wordsFoot type Stress pattern Examples

Iamb Unstressed + Stressed˘ awake

Trochee Stressed + Unstressed ˘apple

Spondee Stressed + Stressed deadlock

Anapest Unstressed + Unstressed + Stressed˘ ˘ incomplete

Dactyl Stressed + Unstressed + Unstressed ˘ ˘criminal

Amphibrach Unstressed + Stressed + Unstressed˘ ˘regardless

Pyrrhic Unstressed + Unstressed ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ When the blood creeps and the nerves prick

Metrical LinesMetrical Lines

The meter for a line of poetry is The meter for a line of poetry is

determined by the type of foot determined by the type of foot

and the number of feet in that lineand the number of feet in that line

So a line with three iambic feet is So a line with three iambic feet is

known as iambic trimeter A line known as iambic trimeter A line

with six dactylic feet is known as with six dactylic feet is known as

dactylic hexameterdactylic hexameter

Line types Length

Monometer One Foot

Dimeter Two Feet

Trimeter Three Feet

Tetrameter Four Feet

Pentameter Five Feet

Hexameter Six Feet

Heptameter Seven Feet

Line ExamplesLine ExamplesIambic pentameterIambic pentameter

The curfew tolls the knell of parting dayThe curfew tolls the knell of parting dayfrom from Elegy Written in a Country ChurchyardElegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray by Thomas Gray

That time of year thou mayst in me beholdThat time of year thou mayst in me beholdfrom Sonnet 73 by William Shakespearefrom Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare

A little learning is a dangerous thingA little learning is a dangerous thingfrom from An Essay on CriticismAn Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope by Alexander Pope

Line ExamplesLine Examples

Determine the meterDetermine the meter ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘

Half a league half a leagueHalf a league half a league ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘

Half a league onwardHalf a league onward ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘

All in the valley of DeathAll in the valley of Death ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘ ˘

Rode the six hundred Rode the six hundred

from from The Charge of the Light BrigadeThe Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Meter and FormMeter and Form

Some forms of poetry are written entirely Some forms of poetry are written entirely

in one meterin one meter

Some forms of poetry require several Some forms of poetry require several

different meters different meters

And yes some forms of poetry even mix And yes some forms of poetry even mix

meters in individual linesmeters in individual lines

RhymeRhyme Rhyme a repetition of similar sounds in two or more Rhyme a repetition of similar sounds in two or more

wordswords Example To Example To rhymerhyme is is sublimesublime

End rhyme Rhymes that occur at the end of the verse End rhyme Rhymes that occur at the end of the verse

lineline Example And the waves oozing through the porthole Example And the waves oozing through the porthole mademade

His berth a little damp and him His berth a little damp and him afraidafraid

Internal Rhyme Rhymes that occur within a verse lineInternal Rhyme Rhymes that occur within a verse line Example Sister my sister O Example Sister my sister O fleetfleet sweetsweet swallow swallow

Rhyme SchemeRhyme SchemeA rhyme scheme is the A rhyme scheme is the patternpattern of end-rhymed lines in a of end-rhymed lines in a

poempoem

Bent double like old beggars under sacks Bent double like old beggars under sacks a a

Knock-kneed coughing like hags we cursed through sludge bKnock-kneed coughing like hags we cursed through sludge b

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs aTill on the haunting flares we turned our backs a

And towards our distant rest began to trudge And towards our distant rest began to trudge b b

Men marched asleep Many had lost their bootsMen marched asleep Many had lost their boots c c

But limped on blood-shod All went lame all blind But limped on blood-shod All went lame all blind d d

Drunk with fatigue deaf even to the hoots Drunk with fatigue deaf even to the hoots c c

Of tired outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind Of tired outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind d d

from from Dulce Et Decorum EstDulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen by Wilfred Owen

Line BreakLine Break A line break in poetry is the termination of the line of a A line break in poetry is the termination of the line of a

poem (usually on the right) and the beginning of a new poem (usually on the right) and the beginning of a new

line (usually on the left)line (usually on the left)

When a line ends with a syntactical pause and punctuation When a line ends with a syntactical pause and punctuation

that indicates a pause it is ldquoend-stoppedrdquothat indicates a pause it is ldquoend-stoppedrdquo

When a line ends within a syntactical unit and has no When a line ends within a syntactical unit and has no

punctuation that indicates a pause it is ldquoenjambedrdquopunctuation that indicates a pause it is ldquoenjambedrdquo

Enjambment literally means to straddlelsquo (or to put ones Enjambment literally means to straddlelsquo (or to put ones

leg across or to step over) and is a form of line breakleg across or to step over) and is a form of line break

EnjambmentEnjambment

These lines are end-stopped that is the end These lines are end-stopped that is the end

of the line coincides with the end of a of the line coincides with the end of a

grammatical unitgrammatical unit

Shall I compare thee to a summers dayShall I compare thee to a summers day

Thou art more lovely and more temperateThou art more lovely and more temperate

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of MayRough winds do shake the darling buds of May

And summers lease hath all too short a date And summers lease hath all too short a date

(Shakespeare Sonnet 18)(Shakespeare Sonnet 18)

EnjambmentEnjambmentThese lines are enjambed that is the line does not end These lines are enjambed that is the line does not end with a grammatical break Here are a few lines from with a grammatical break Here are a few lines from Keats Keats EndymionEndymion which demonstrate how enjambment which demonstrate how enjambment worksworks

A thing of beauty is a joy forever A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases it will neverIts loveliness increases it will never

Pass into nothingness but still will keep Pass into nothingness but still will keep

A bower quiet for us and asleepA bower quiet for us and asleep

Full of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing(ll 1-5)Full of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing(ll 1-5)

The first and last lines above are end-stopped lines 2 3 The first and last lines above are end-stopped lines 2 3 and 4 are enjambedand 4 are enjambed

EnjambmentEnjambment Enjambment increases the pace of the poem whereas Enjambment increases the pace of the poem whereas

end-stopped lines which are lines that break on end-stopped lines which are lines that break on

caesuras (pauses) emphasize these silences and slow caesuras (pauses) emphasize these silences and slow

the poem downthe poem down

may also be used to delay the intention of the line until may also be used to delay the intention of the line until

the following line and thus play on the expectation of the following line and thus play on the expectation of

the reader and surprise themthe reader and surprise them

the line cannot stand alone cannot make sense without the line cannot stand alone cannot make sense without

the following linethe following line

Closed FormClosed Form

Together meter and rhyme scheme may Together meter and rhyme scheme may

determine a specific pattern or design of poetrydetermine a specific pattern or design of poetry

When these forms are strictly defined they are When these forms are strictly defined they are

referred to as referred to as closed formsclosed forms

In English closed forms include theIn English closed forms include the

SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina

Villanelle Villanelle

Blank verseBlank verse

Heroic coupletHeroic couplet

RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade

Ottava RimaOttava Rima

That is no country for old men The youngThat is no country for old men The young

In one anothers arms birds in the treesIn one anothers arms birds in the trees

- Those dying generations - at their song- Those dying generations - at their song

The salmon-falls the mackerel-crowded seasThe salmon-falls the mackerel-crowded seas

Fish flesh or fowl commend all summer longFish flesh or fowl commend all summer long

Whatever is begotten born and diesWhatever is begotten born and dies

Caught in that sensual music all neglectCaught in that sensual music all neglect

Monuments of unageing intellectMonuments of unageing intellect

Open FormOpen Form

Does not follow a traditional rhyme scheme Does not follow a traditional rhyme scheme

stanza pattern or meterstanza pattern or meter

Does not have a recognized traditional formDoes not have a recognized traditional form

Often (if successful) informed by a more Often (if successful) informed by a more

subtle organic structuresubtle organic structure

Became the dominant form of poetry in Became the dominant form of poetry in

Europe and America in the 20Europe and America in the 20thth century century

WarWarOpen vs ClosedOpen vs Closed

Free verse vs Formal verseFree verse vs Formal verse

Experimental vs TraditionalExperimental vs Traditional

Machine age vs Agrarian ageMachine age vs Agrarian age

Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down ndashRobert FrostWriting free verse is like playing tennis with the net down ndashRobert Frost

I never thought poetry was supposed to be a game ndashGalway KinnellI never thought poetry was supposed to be a game ndashGalway Kinnell

Rhythm Rhythm

A strong regular repeated pattern of movement A strong regular repeated pattern of movement

or soundor sound

SourcesSources

From the Oxford English Dictionary ldquomarked by the From the Oxford English Dictionary ldquomarked by the

regulated succession of strong and weak elements or regulated succession of strong and weak elements or

of opposite or different conditionsrdquoof opposite or different conditionsrdquo

From Latin From Latin rhythmusrhythmus ldquomovement in timerdquo ldquomovement in timerdquo

From Greek From Greek rhythmos rhythmos ldquomeasured flow or movementrdquoldquomeasured flow or movementrdquo

Meter Meter



stressstress




Foot Foot





























Line types Length

Monometer One Foot

Dimeter Two Feet

Trimeter Three Feet



Hexameter Six Feet



























poempoem


















































SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina




RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade










Open FormOpen Form














Meter Meter



stressstress




Foot Foot





























Line types Length

Monometer One Foot

Dimeter Two Feet

Trimeter Three Feet



Hexameter Six Feet



























poempoem


















































SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina




RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade










Open FormOpen Form














Foot Foot





























Line types Length

Monometer One Foot

Dimeter Two Feet

Trimeter Three Feet



Hexameter Six Feet



























poempoem


















































SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina




RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade










Open FormOpen Form
































Line types Length

Monometer One Foot

Dimeter Two Feet

Trimeter Three Feet



Hexameter Six Feet



























poempoem


















































SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina




RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade










Open FormOpen Form







































poempoem


















































SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina




RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade










Open FormOpen Form






















































SonnetSonnet

SestinaSestina




RoundelRoundel

BalladeBallade










Open FormOpen Form























Open FormOpen Form














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