Scanning of a Poem, English Reading Skills,Hons 1st Year. Lecture-01

Scanning of a Poem
Scanning a poem involves analyzing its meter, which is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in its lines. This process helps to identify the poem’s rhythm, which can enhance its meaning and emotional impact. Here’s how you can scan a poem:
Steps to Scanning a Poem:
1. *Identify the Syllables:*
- Read the poem aloud and listen for the natural breaks in words, which usually indicate syllables. For example, the word "poetry" has three syllables: po-e-try.
2. *Mark the Stressed and Unstressed Syllables:*
- In English, some syllables are naturally stressed (stronger emphasis), while others are unstressed (weaker emphasis).
- Use the following symbols:
- Stressed syllables are marked with an accent (`´`), called a macron.
- Unstressed syllables are marked with a breve (`˘`).
For example, in the word "poetry," the stress pattern would be `´˘˘` (PO-e-try).
3. *Determine the Foot:*
- A foot is a unit of meter in poetry. Common types of feet include:
- *Iamb (Iambic):* ˘´ (unstressed-stressed)
- *Trochee (Trochaic):* ´˘ (stressed-unstressed)
- *Anapest (Anapestic):* ˘˘´ (unstressed-unstressed-stressed)
- *Dactyl (Dactylic):* ´˘˘ (stressed-unstressed-unstressed)
- *Spondee (Spondaic):* ´´ (stressed-stressed)
- *Pyrrhic:* ˘˘ (unstressed-unstressed)
For example, the word "reMIND" is iambic because it has an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
4. *Analyze the Meter:*
- Meter refers to the pattern of feet in a line of poetry. Common meters include:
- *Iambic pentameter:* Five iambs per line (10 syllables)
- *Trochaic tetrameter:* Four trochees per line (8 syllables)
- *Anapestic trimeter:* Three anapests per line (9 syllables)
- *Dactylic hexameter:* Six dactyls per line (18 syllables)
For example, Shakespeare often used iambic pentameter, such as in this line:
- "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
- Scanning: ˘´ | ˘´ | ˘´ | ˘´ | ˘´

5. *Note Variations:*
- Poets sometimes deviate from the regular meter for emphasis or effect. These variations can include substitutions (using a different foot), caesuras (pauses), or enjambment (running over of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next).
Example of Scanning a Poem:
Consider the opening line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 18:
- *Line:* "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
- *Scanning:*
- Shall I | comPARE | thee TO | a SUM | mer's DAY?
- ˘´ | ˘´ | ˘´ | ˘´ | ˘´
- This line is in *iambic pentameter* because it has five iambs (unstressed-stressed) per line.
By scanning a poem, you gain a deeper understanding of its rhythm and how it contributes to the poem’s overall tone, mood, and meaning.

Iambic Foot
An iambic foot in poetry consists of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This is the most common metrical foot in English poetry and creates a natural, rhythmic flow that mimics the pattern of spoken English.
A classic example of iambic metre can be found in the opening line of William Shakespeare’s *"Sonnet 18"*:
*"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"*
In this line, the iambic pattern is clear:
*shall* I** com**PARE** thee *TO* a **SUM**mer's **DAY**.
Each foot consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, producing the characteristic rising rhythm of iambic metre. This metre is often used in sonnets and blank verse, contributing to a harmonious and balanced sound.


Trochaic Metre
Trochaic metre is a type of poetic metre where each foot consists of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. A common example of trochaic metre is found in the nursery rhyme:
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star”
Here, each foot follows the pattern of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
Another example from William Blake’s poem The Tyger:
“Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In both examples, the emphasis falls on the first syllable of each foot, creating the characteristic rhythm of trochaic metre.


Anapaestic Metre
Anapestic metre is a poetic metre where each foot consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. This creates a rhythm that is light and rolling, often used in lively or whimsical poetry.
A classic example of anapestic metre can be found in the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, also known as *"Twas the Night Before Christmas"*:
*"Twas the night before Christ**mas, **when all through the house*
**Not a creature was stir**ring, **not even a mouse**.
In this example, each foot is an anapest, with the stress on the third syllable:
*twas the **NIGHT* before **CHRIST**mas
when *ALL* through the *HOUSE*
This pattern gives the verse a rhythmic, almost musical quality that suits the festive theme of the poem.