Foot & Meter #PoetryDefined

Summary

This educational video script explores the concept of rhythm in poetry, focusing on the structural rhythm measured by 'feet' and 'meter.' It introduces six types of feet: iamb, anapest, trochee, dactyl, spondee, and pyrrhic, each with a unique pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The script also discusses various meters, such as tetrameter and pentameter, which are determined by the number of feet per line. The video aims to deepen the viewer's understanding of these poetic devices, emphasizing the importance of rhythm in creating impactful poetry.

Takeaways

• 🎶 Rhythm is a crucial element in poetry, with each poem having a unique rhythmic structure.
• 📏 Meter is a measurement of poetry's rhythm, broken down into 'feet', which are units of stressed and unstressed syllables.
• 🦶 A 'foot' is the basic unit of a meter, and it can be one of six types: Iamb, Anapest, Trochee, Dactyl, Spondee, and Pyrrhic.
• 🌱 Iamb and Anapest are 'rising' meters, with unstressed syllables followed by stressed ones, while Trochee and Dactyl are 'falling' meters, with the stress pattern reversed.
• 🐯 The Iambic meter is exemplified in phrases like 'Delight belong' and in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', often used in Iambic pentameter.
• 🦌 An Anapest is identified in words like 'understand' and in the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas', often in Anapestic tetrameter.
• 🦄 The Trochee is characterized by one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed, as seen in 'The Tiger' by William Blake.
• 📚 A Dactyl consists of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, found in words like 'poetry' and in Tennyson's 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'.
• 🏈 Spondee is a foot with two stressed syllables, such as in the word 'heartbreak', and is rarely found in pure Spondaic meter.
• 🎭 Pyrrhic, or 'Bohemian meter', is a foot with two unstressed syllables and is often debated among scholars for its validity in scansion.
• 📘 Meter types are further categorized into monometer to octameter, indicating the number of feet per line in a poem.

Q & A

What is the primary trait emphasized in the definition of poetry according to the video?

The primary trait emphasized in the definition of poetry is rhythm.

What are syllables measured by in the context of poetry?

Syllables in poetry are measured by a foot and meter.

What is a meter in poetry?

A meter in poetry is a measurement based on the structural rhythm of a verse, broken up into feet.

What is a foot in poetry?

A foot is a basic unit of measurement of a meter, representing the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

How many different types of feet are utilized in English poetry?

There are six different types of feet utilized in English poetry.

What are the two types of meters that have one or two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one?

The two types of meters with one or two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one are iambic and anapestic meters.

What is an iambic meter and provide an example from literature?

An iambic meter consists of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. An example is from William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' with the line 'But soft what light through yonder window breaks.'

Define an anapestic meter and give a one-word example.

An anapestic meter consists of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. A one-word example is 'understand.'

What are the two types of meters that have one stress syllable followed by one or two unstressed syllables?

The two types of meters with one stress syllable followed by one or two unstressed syllables are trochaic and dactylic meters.

What is a spondee in poetry, and are there any poems written in pure spondee meter?

A spondee is a foot consisting of two stressed syllables. There are no poems written in 100% pure spondee metered lines.

What is the term for a foot consisting of two unstressed syllables, and is it recognized by all scholars?

The term for a foot consisting of two unstressed syllables is pyrrhic. However, it is not recognized by all scholars, and there is historical debate about its validity.

What are the different types of meters based on the number of feet per line?

The different types of meters based on the number of feet per line include monometer (1 foot), dimeter (2 feet), trimeter (3 feet), tetrameter (4 feet), pentameter (5 feet), hexameter (6 feet), heptameter (7 feet), and octameter (8 feet).

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Rhythm in Poetry

This paragraph delves into the concept of rhythm in poetry, emphasizing its importance as a defining characteristic. It introduces the idea of measuring rhythm through syllables, using 'feet' and 'meter' as units of measurement. A 'foot' refers to a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, and there are six types of feet in English poetry: iamb, anapest, trochee, dactyl, spondee, and pyrrhic. The paragraph explains the iamb and anapest as rising meters, where unstressed syllables precede stressed ones. Examples from 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' illustrate these meters. The paragraph also mentions that a meter can be identified by the number of feet it contains, such as tetrameter or pentameter.

05:02

📘 Exploring Different Types of Poetic Feet

This paragraph continues the exploration of poetic feet, focusing on the trochee and dactyl, which are described as falling meters due to their structure of a stressed syllable followed by one or two unstressed syllables. Examples from 'The Tiger' and 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' are used to illustrate these meters. The paragraph then discusses the spondee, characterized by two stressed syllables, and mentions that it is rarely found in pure form in poetry. The pyrrhic, or perck, is introduced as a foot with two unstressed syllables, which is not commonly recognized by modern scholars and is sometimes considered a controversial element in poetic meter. The paragraph concludes by briefly touching on the concept of different line meters, such as monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, and octameter, and hints at further discussions on meter and poetry in future videos.

Keywords

💡Rhythm

Rhythm in poetry refers to the pattern of sounds and stresses that create a sense of movement and flow in a verse. It is a fundamental aspect of poetry, as emphasized in the video, where it is mentioned that every poem must have rhythm. The video script discusses rhythm on a 'molecular level' by breaking it down into syllables and feet, which are the basic units of rhythmic structure in poetry.

💡Syllables

Syllables are individual units of sound within a word that are separated by vowel sounds. In the context of the video, syllables are measured in terms of stress and are essential in determining the rhythm of poetry. The video explains that a foot, which is a basic unit of rhythm, is composed of a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

💡Foot

A foot is a unit of rhythm in a line of poetry, consisting of a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The video script delves into different types of feet, such as iamb, anapest, trochee, dactyl, spondee, and pyrrhic, which are essential for understanding the rhythmic structure of poetry. Each foot has a specific pattern that contributes to the overall meter of the verse.

💡Meter

Meter in poetry is a system of rhythmic patterns that are based on the number and arrangement of syllables in a line of verse. The video explains that a meter is broken up into feet, and different types of meters are identified by the number of feet per line, such as tetrameter (four feet) and pentameter (five feet). Meter is crucial for the structural rhythm of a verse.

💡Iamb

An iamb is a type of foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. The video uses the phrase 'but soft what light' from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' to illustrate an iambic pentameter, which is a line with five iambs. Iambs are common in English poetry and contribute to the natural rhythm of speech.

💡Anapest

An anapest is a foot that consists of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. The video provides the example of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' by Clement Clark Moore, which is written in anapestic tetrameter, meaning each line contains four anapests. Anapests create a distinctive rhythm that is often used in lighter or more playful poetry.

💡Trochee

A trochee is a foot with one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable. The video cites the opening of William Blake's 'The Tiger' as an example of trochaic meter. Trochees are considered a 'fallen meter' because they start with a stressed syllable, contrasting with the 'risen meters' like iambs and anapests.

💡Dactyl

A dactyl is a foot that consists of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables. The video uses 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' by Alfred Lord Tennyson to demonstrate a dactylic meter. Dactyls contribute to a strong, marching rhythm, often used in narrative or epic poetry.

💡Spondee

A spondee is a foot made up of two stressed syllables. The video humorously suggests that a spondee is in 'desperate need of a therapist' due to its stress on both syllables. Spondees are less common in English poetry but can be found in lines like 'white fonts fallen' from GK Chesterton's poem 'Lepanto'.

💡Pyrrhic

A pyrrhic, also known as a perck, is a foot consisting of two unstressed syllables. The video notes that this foot is less frequently recognized in modern times and is often combined with adjacent feet. Pyrrhics are rare in poetry, and the video does not provide a specific example from the script, reflecting their infrequent use.

Highlights

Rhythm is a defining trait of poetry, with various forms and structures.

Poetry's rhythm is measured at a molecular level through syllables, feet, and meter.

A foot is the basic unit of measurement in a meter, consisting of stressed and unstressed syllables.

There are six types of feet used in English poetry: iamb, anapest, trochee, dactyl, spondee, and pyrrhic.

Iamb and anapest are rising meters, with unstressed syllables followed by stressed ones.

An iamb consists of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable.

An anapest has two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable.

Examples of iambic pentameter include lines from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

An anapestic tetrameter is exemplified in Clement Clark Moore's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Trochee and dactyl are falling meters, with a stressed syllable followed by unstressed ones.

A trochee contains one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.

A dactyl is measured as one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

Spondee is made up of two stressed syllables and is rarely used in pure spondaic meter.

Pyrrhic, or perck, is a foot consisting of two unstressed syllables and is not commonly recognized.

Meter types are categorized by the number of feet per line, such as monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, and octameter.

Understanding meter and poetry involves counting meters, also known as scansion, which can be challenging.

The video encourages re-watching for better comprehension of the complex subject of rhythm in poetry.

Transcripts

foot and

meter if you have been watching this

series from the first episode you're

fully aware of how much we've harped on

Rhythm poems come in all shapes and

sizes and they must have rhythm we spoke

about that before so the only trait each

dictionary feels is important to mention

in its definition of poetry is rhythm in

order to further our understanding of

Rhythm in poetry we need to explore its

molecular level syllables which we

measure by a foot and

meter so if you clicked on this video

assuming it was about walking shoes and

distance we are miles away from that

buddy before we begin two things first

you might want to get yourself a pen and

Pad but you don't need to and second

remember remember this is a video on the

internet you can pause it at any time or

go back a meter spelled m e t e r in

America and spelled m e t e in the UK is

a measurement of poetry based on the

structural rhythm of a verse a meter is

broken up in the feet a foot is a basic

unit of measurement of a meter it is the

pattern of stressed and unstressed

syllables or accented and unaccented

syllables use whichever adjective you

prefer they are both correct in the

English language there are six different

types of feet we utilize I anapest Troi

dactyl SPI and pck don't let these weird

names fool you soon enough they will

become easy to understand first we're

going to tackle the I and anapest they

are each considered a risen meter

meaning they have one or two unstressed

syllables followed by a stressed one an

I am is made up of one unstressed

syllable followed by one un stressed

syllable the words Delight belong per

chance are all one-word examples of an I

am now an excerpt from Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare but soft what

light through yonder window breaks

specifically this is called an i Amic

pentameter which means there are five

IMS in the line but soft what light

through yonder window breaks an anapest

consist of two unstressed syllables

followed by one stressed syllable the

words understand overcome interrupt are

all one-word examples of an anapest here

is an excerpt from TW the Night Before

Christmas by Clement Clark Moore TW the

Night Before Christmas when all through

the house not a creature was stirring

not even a mouse these two lines are

written in anapestic tetrameter which

means they consist of four anapest per

line TW the Night Before Christmas went

all through the house not a creature

with stirring not even a mouse moving

forward we get to the Troy and dactyl

both are considered a fallen meter they

have one stress syllable followed by one

or two unstress syllables if you notice

they are the exact opposite of an I am

and anapest a Troi contains one stress

syllable followed by one unstressed

syllable the words lover looking numbers

are all one-word examples of a Troy it

seems like everyone's favorite example

of a trochaic meter is the opening of

William Blake's poem The Tiger Tiger

Tiger Burning Bright in the forest of

the night each line has seven syllables

so we're missing that last unstressed

syllable at the end even so this is

still considered a trochaic meter Tiger

Tiger Burning Bright in the forest of

the night a Dactyl is measured as being

one stress syllable followed by two

unstressed syllables the word poetry is

dactyl as are the words syllable and

suddenly I'd also like to add to the

list a couple of double dactyl words

characteristically in

Indianapolis the opening to Alfred Lord

Tennyson's The Charge of the Light

Brigade showcases Ada dactyl half a

league half a league half a league

onward one accented syllable followed by

two unaccented syllables half a league

half a league half a league onward next

up is the spondi which affectionately I

like to say is in desperate need of a

therapist a spondi is made up of two

stress syllables get it I said it needs

a therapist because it is made up of two

stressed

syllables oh you didn't come for the

jokes you came for the information got

it the words heartbreak football

breakdown are examples of a one-word

spondi both syllables are stressed there

are no poems written in 100% pure

spondaic metered lines at least none I

know of that makes sense but we're going

to use the opening line to GK Chester

tins poem lanto white fonts fallen in

the courts of the Sun the first two feet

of the are spondaic the final two feet

are anapestic white fonts fallen in the

courts of the sun last and well sort of

least because it doesn't appear too

often is the perck I call it the

Bohemian meter it is the counterpart of

a spondi because it is a foot that

consists of two unstressed syllables get

it again two unstressed syllables oh

come on I'm trying here there is no

single word that I'm aware of and which

can represent a peric I could be wrong

let me know in the comments you'll need

two words to do so like the combination

of Ina or and the it should be noted in

modern times most writers and Scholars

don't recognize the pick they simply

attach the unaccented lines to adjacent

feet in fact there is a large contention

of Scholars throughout history who think

it is a forced figment of our

imagination I'm still undecided on their

argument but I thought I should mention

that the debate exists also unlike the

first five feet we discussed perck has a

different def definition outside of the

literature World it means achieved at

excessive cost costly to the point of

negating or outweighing expected

benefits before we bring this video to a

close earlier I mentioned the words

pentameter and tetrameter I'd like to

briefly Define them and their cohorts a

monometer is 1 ft diameter is 2T treter

is 3 ft tetrameter is 4T pentameter is 5

ft hexameter is 6 ft Hep diameter is 7

ft and octameter is 8 ft there is much

more to be discussed concerning meter

and poetry and later on in this series

we will get to that for where we're at

now this is what we'll need to know

don't be afraid to rewatch this a few

times counting meters also known as

scansion can be tricky I myself am

constantly taking refresher courses also

there is a like And subscribe button for

a

reason and don't be afraid to share this

with your network I might be a crude

animation but I've got more Talent than

these tabloid Bob goblins yeah I went

there as always there is more to come so

stay connected and thanks for watching

poetry

defined pros come in paragraphs and

follow the laws of grammar your everyday

speech novels essays news articles the

law Etc are all pro to clear up some

confusion if you write a poem with a

pattern never seen before it is not a

free verse you've simply created a

unique need c