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

1. Mark stressed ( /) and unstressed ( ) syllables in the following passage:

  Rhythm and its specialized form, meter, depend upon repetition and

expectancy. Equally where what is expected recurs and where it fails, all

metrical effects spring from anticipation.


2. Scan the following passages, marking stressed and unstressed syllables and indicating foot divisions. When in doubt about whether a syllable should be accented or not, give both possibilities in your scansion. Note as indicated the form of each passage (e.g., iambic trimester, blank verse, etc.).

Twinkle twinkle little star,

How I wonder what you are.

 

Form:

 

Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright

In the forest of the night.

 

Form:

 

My love is like a red, red rose

That's newly sprung in June.

My love is like a melody

That's sweetly played in tune.

 

Form:

 

We romped until the pans

Slid from the kitchen shelf.

My mother's countenance

Could not unfrown itself.

 

Form:

 

The moon was up, the lake was shining clear

Among the hoary mountains; from the shore

I push'd, and struck the oars and struck again

In cadence, and my little boat mov'd on

Even like a man who walks with stately step

Though bent on speed.

 

Form:

 

 

All fly to Twit'nam, and in humble strain

Apply to me to keep them mad or vain.

Arthur, whose giddy son neglects the laws,

Imputes to me and my damn'd works the cause.

Poor Cornus sees his frantic wife elope,

And curses Wit, and Poetry, and Pope.

 

Form:

 

 

Seek true religion. O where? Myrius,

Thinking her unhous'd here and fled from us,

Seeks her at Rome, there, because he doth know

That she was there a thousand years ago.

 

Form:

 

 

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,

Out of the nightingale's throat, the musical shuttle

Form:

 

 

A spouse I do hate,

For either she's false or she's jealous;

But give us a mate,

Who nothing will ask us, or tell us.

 

Form:

 

 

Must I tell again

In the words I know

For the ears of men

The flesh, the blow?
Form:

 

Name:


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