219 and 220 home page


* A key to this exercise is located in the "Resources for 219" folder in Murray Hall room 104.

A. Ostriker

Technique in Poetry

Scan the following passages: / = stressed syllable, = unstressed syllable

1.

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,

The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,

The plowman homeward plods his weary way,

And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

 

 
2.

Because I could not stop for Death

He kindly stopped for me.

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

 

 
3.

I placed a jar in Tennessee

And round it was, upon a hill.
I
t made the slovenly wilderness

Surround that hill.

 

 
4.

She took me to her elfin grot,

And there she wept, and sighed full sore;

And there I shut her wild wild eves

With kisses four.

 

 
5. Terence, this is stupid stuff:

You eat your victuals fast enough;

There can't be much amiss, 'tis clear,

To see the rate you drink your beer.

But oh, good Lord, the verse you make,

It gives a chap the belly-ache.