Poetry Support

eWriting > Poetry Support > Explanation

• Features
• Components
• Statement & Voice
• Self-Test
• Rhythm
• Rap
• Self-Test
• Metre
• Self-Test
• Explanation
• Rhyme
• Self-Test
• Sound devices
• Alliteration
• Assonance
• Consonance
• Variation
• Self-Test
• Verbal devices
• Imagery
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Personification
• Synecdoche
• Metonymy
• Hyperbole
• Symbolism
• Diction
• Self-Test
• Affective Levels
• Tone
• Atmosphere
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• Self-Test

Explanations to answers on self-test on metre

1. (b) Measure is the answer because "scansion" refers to the practice of looking at the whole line/poem and working out its metrical pattern. On the other hand, "syllable" is a word or part of a word which contains one vowel sound. A literal meaning of metre is measure.
2. (c) Poetic feet can be made up of either disyllabic or trisyllabic elements (that is, two or three syllables). Every foot in a line of poetry is defined as a unit of the measure or metre. There could be one or several feet in one line of poetry.
3. (a) The poet's purpose in using metric patterns is to place a control on the verse so he/she can express the message in a certain way. Poetry, to be true poetry, does not have to be written in metre. The poet has many means of producing a pleasing effect without resorting to metric pattens.
4. (c) There are several kinds of metre but only six were discussed in this course.
5. (c) Remember that "tetra" = four. Therefore, tetrameter indicates that the line of poetry in question contains four feet.
6. (b) Grey's "Elegy" is written in iambic pentameter. There are five feet to each line and each foot contains an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable. Judith Wright's "Magpies" contains iambic tetrameter, four short/long feet while Housman's ballad, "Farewell to barn and tree" except for the third line commencing with "Terence", where there is a slight variation, is also made up of iambic tetrameter.
7. (b) The extract from Thomas Hood's poem, "The Bridge of Sighs" is an example of dactyllic dimeter, with a couple of variations. It demonstrates the use of one accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables. This kind of metric feet hints a movement and certainly gentleness.
8. (a) In these lines anapestic metre is used (two shorts and a long). The metre here is reflecting the fleet passage of time.
9. (b) These are spondees which are reflecting the heaviness of heart the poet is experiencing.
10. (a) Iambs always give an upward movement. Note the exclamation marks following these iambs which are a sign of the voice rising.
11. (b) This is the light-hearted amphibrachic metre which gives a fun feeling.
12. (b) Trochaic metre gives a downward feeling and the spondaic represents two heavy stresses together. These two types of metre could be well used to reflect depression, sadness and loss.

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