What is the meter of a poem?

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Do you know what the meter of a poem is? Until now, you may not have considered what exactly the meter of a poem is. That is why in our lesson at unPROFESOR.com we will explain step by step what is the metric of a poem with examples so you can identify and analyze them without any complication. In addition, we will also know the types that exist, how it is measured and how to make the metric of a poem. Do not miss it!

Index

1. Defining the metric of a poem
2. Types of metrics in a poem
3. Metric licenses
4. Verses ending in treble and esdrújulas

The metric of a poem takes care of the versification, that is, of how the verses of a poetic composition are constructed and combined. Before beginning to know the concept in depth, it is necessary to handle three basic concepts in poetry; the verse, the stanza and the poem.

• Verse: we call each of the lines that make up a poem a verse that is separated by a mandatory pause. It is made up of one or more sentences or short phrases.
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• Stanza: set of verses within the same poem. The stanzas can have the same rhyme or measure, although they do not have to coincide in all cases.
• Poem: the grouping of verses and stanzas results in the poem. This may or may not be organized by stanzas.

So we could define the metric as the measure of the verses, its structure and the way in which the author manages to combine them in order to express a specific message. Therefore, when talking about meter, we are also talking about the number of syllables that each verse has.

For example:

How many times it results from a deception

against the deceiver the greatest harm!

Both verses have 11 syllables.

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Within the metric, there are several types of this that we can find in the different constructions of verses and stanzas. Depending on their size, they will enter one group or another.

Verses of major art

The verses of major art are those that are composed of more than eight metric syllables, that is, from nine onwards. Here we find the following verses:

• 9 metric syllables: eneasílabo
• 10 metric syllables: decasílabo
• 11 metric syllables: hendecasyllable
• 12 metric syllables: dodecasílabo
• 13 metric syllables: trisecasílabo
• 14 metric syllables: alejandrino.

Minor art verses

On the other hand, the verses of minor art are those that have eight or less metric syllables. They are as follows:

• 2 metric syllables: bisílabo
• 3 metric syllables: trisyllable
• 4 metric syllables: tetrasyllable
• 5 metric syllables: pentasyllable
• 6 metric syllables: hexasílabo
• 7 metric syllables: reptasílabo
• 8 metric syllables: octosyllable

When making a metric analysisIt is also important to take into account the metric licenses that can change the syllabic number of a specific verse. For example, if a word ends in a vowel and the next one also begins with a vowel, they are joined and pronounced in the same syllable. This license has the name of sinalefa: dog + yellow. Here, the o and the a come together and form the same syllable.

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As we have commented, it is important to take into account the different metric licenses when counting the syllables of each verse. That is why, below, we are going to know the most common ones.

Sinalefa

As we have advanced, the sinalefaoccurs when one word ends in a vowel and the next also begins in a vowel. These two syllables come together and form one:

For example: creo-ma + o-le-o-sa

Dieresis

The umlaut is the separation of two vowels that must go together, because they form a diphthong, but the author wants them to be counted as separate to maintain an exact metric.

For example: widow can be represented as widow to make a separation: vi-ü-da.

Syneresis

The syneresisit is the opposite of the umlaut. In syneresis, two vocables come together that, in reality, should be separated because they are not a diphthong.

For example: poe-si-a.

Hiatus

In the hiatus, the last syllable of a word that ends in a vowel and the first that also begins with a vowel do not join. It is just the opposite of sinaléfa.

For example: ends + in. If we treat it as a sinalépha, the syllables should join, but being a hiatus, they must remain separate to give the poem the specific metric that the author wants.

It may be difficult at first to find the exact metric of a poem, but it is all a matter of practice. The more analyzes, the more accurate the metric analysis will be.

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In Spanish, the norm of measurement is set by the word llana, and that is why, when a word is acute or esdrújula, it is necessary to add or delete a syllable.

Sharp words

When a verse ends in a word water, it becomes necessary to add one more syllable. For example:

Foolish men you accuse (7 + 1 = 8)

to the woman without reason (7 + 1 = 8)

without seeing that you are the occasion (7 + 1 = 8)

of the same thing that you blame. (7 + 1 = 8)

(Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz)

Words esdrújulas

On the other hand, if the word ends in an esdrújula, the verse is considered to have one less syllable. The syllable that is not counted is the postonic one and does not influence the final rhyme of each verse. For example:

Today, because you have come to visit me, (11)

I remember that there is a world and that there is more. (12 - 1=11)

Blessed are you, under the May sun, (11)

my sadness, bright and warm! (12 - 1=11)

When the word that ends the verse is flat, it is not necessary to make any type of change in the metric structure.

If you want to read more articles about the metrics of poems, rhyme or structure, we recommend that you continue taking a look in our category Literary concepts to continue learning at UNPROFESOR.com.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is the metric of a poem - Definition and examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Literary concepts.

• Domínguez Caparrós, José (1993), Spanish Metrics, Madrid, Synthesis.
• Navarro Tomás, Tomás (1991), Spanish Metrics, Barcelona, ​​Labor.