Poetry Mechanics - Contest #3
Anapestic Tetrameter - Don't let the terminology scare you !!
Everything you need to know is explained in the information below - but first the RULES:
1. Write a poem on any topic using Anapestic Tetrameter.
2. Absolutely no Author's notes.
3. Minimum eight lines - maximum 16.
4. Quatrains (4 lines per Stanza)
5. Rhyme scheme: Your choice of: AAAA, ABAB, ABBA, ABCB, AABB
Poetic terminology:
Anapest meter is: (anah-pest)
two unstressed syllables, followed by a stressed one. (da-da-DUM)
Tetrameter (te-TRAM-eh-ter), Tetra means 4.
Anapestic Tetrameter means that there will be 4 da-da-DUMs in each line. (12 syllables)
* see note below regarding 11 syllable lines.
Remember that each 'anapestic' foot has three syllables, unlike iambic, and trochees which only have two. Anapestic meter can be comical or non-comical - it's up to the poet.
An example of 'non-comical' Anapestic tetrameter:
-- Excerpt from, 'The Destruction of Sennacherib'
by George Gordon, LORD BYRON:
The AsSYRian came DOWN like the WOLF on the FOLD,
And his COhorts were GLEAMing in PURple and GOLD;
And the SHEEN of their SPEARS was like STARS on the SEA,
When the BLUE wave rolls NIGHTly on DEEP GaliLEE.
For the ANgel of DEATH spread his WINGS on the BLAST,
And BREATHED in the FACE of the FOE as he PASSED;*(see note below)
And the EYES of the SLEEPers waxed DEADly and CHILL,
And their HEARTS but once HEAVED, and for EVer grew STILL!
Anapest also lends itself well to humour and children's poetry.
- Dr. Seuss wrote much of his poetry in this meter.
An example of 'comical' Anapestic Meter:
Horton Hears a Who - by Dr. Seuss.
On the FIFteenth of MAY, in the JUNgle of NOOL,
In the HEAT of the DAY, in the COOL of the POOL,
He was SPLASHing? enJOYing the JUNgle's great JOYS?
When HORton the ELephant HEARD a small NOISE. * (See note below)
Another example of 'comical', or light Anapestic Tetrameter:
Excerpt from 'A visit with St. Nicholas' by Clement Moore:
'Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas, when ALL through the HOUSE,
Not a CREAture was STIRRing, not EVen a MOUSE;
The STOCKings were HUNG by the CHIMney with CARE, *(see note below)
In HOPES that St. NICHOlas SOON would be THERE; *(see note below)
* Notice how the FIRST UNSTRESSED syllable of the FIRST anapest on these lines has been dropped, and yet the poem doesn't seem to miss a beat?
This is common for Anapestic verse and is quite acceptable. The terminology for dropping a syllable is called a catalexis.
In Anapestic meter, it is always at the beginning of a line of verse, and is therefore called a headless catalexis - or headlessness.
Using a catalexis is by no means required, but it IS perfectly correct for Anapestic Meter. Lines using a catalexis will be only 11 syllables in length.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool of 80.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 5 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Saturday, November 1, 2014.
Full Contest Listing
Everything you need to know is explained in the information below - but first the RULES:
1. Write a poem on any topic using Anapestic Tetrameter.
2. Absolutely no Author's notes.
3. Minimum eight lines - maximum 16.
4. Quatrains (4 lines per Stanza)
5. Rhyme scheme: Your choice of: AAAA, ABAB, ABBA, ABCB, AABB
Poetic terminology:
Anapest meter is: (anah-pest)
two unstressed syllables, followed by a stressed one. (da-da-DUM)
Tetrameter (te-TRAM-eh-ter), Tetra means 4.
Anapestic Tetrameter means that there will be 4 da-da-DUMs in each line. (12 syllables)
* see note below regarding 11 syllable lines.
Remember that each 'anapestic' foot has three syllables, unlike iambic, and trochees which only have two. Anapestic meter can be comical or non-comical - it's up to the poet.
An example of 'non-comical' Anapestic tetrameter:
-- Excerpt from, 'The Destruction of Sennacherib'
by George Gordon, LORD BYRON:
The AsSYRian came DOWN like the WOLF on the FOLD,
And his COhorts were GLEAMing in PURple and GOLD;
And the SHEEN of their SPEARS was like STARS on the SEA,
When the BLUE wave rolls NIGHTly on DEEP GaliLEE.
For the ANgel of DEATH spread his WINGS on the BLAST,
And BREATHED in the FACE of the FOE as he PASSED;*(see note below)
And the EYES of the SLEEPers waxed DEADly and CHILL,
And their HEARTS but once HEAVED, and for EVer grew STILL!
Anapest also lends itself well to humour and children's poetry.
- Dr. Seuss wrote much of his poetry in this meter.
An example of 'comical' Anapestic Meter:
Horton Hears a Who - by Dr. Seuss.
On the FIFteenth of MAY, in the JUNgle of NOOL,
In the HEAT of the DAY, in the COOL of the POOL,
He was SPLASHing? enJOYing the JUNgle's great JOYS?
When HORton the ELephant HEARD a small NOISE. * (See note below)
Another example of 'comical', or light Anapestic Tetrameter:
Excerpt from 'A visit with St. Nicholas' by Clement Moore:
'Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas, when ALL through the HOUSE,
Not a CREAture was STIRRing, not EVen a MOUSE;
The STOCKings were HUNG by the CHIMney with CARE, *(see note below)
In HOPES that St. NICHOlas SOON would be THERE; *(see note below)
* Notice how the FIRST UNSTRESSED syllable of the FIRST anapest on these lines has been dropped, and yet the poem doesn't seem to miss a beat?
This is common for Anapestic verse and is quite acceptable. The terminology for dropping a syllable is called a catalexis.
In Anapestic meter, it is always at the beginning of a line of verse, and is therefore called a headless catalexis - or headlessness.
Using a catalexis is by no means required, but it IS perfectly correct for Anapestic Meter. Lines using a catalexis will be only 11 syllables in length.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool of 80.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 5 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Saturday, November 1, 2014.
