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Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) - Poems For Review (28) - Nairaland

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NPC End Of The Year Thanksgiving Cypher. / NPC Collaboration Poetry Competition Season 2: The Renga Fiesta / 6 Memorable Poetry Collections By Nairaland Poets For 2014 - NPC (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:18pm On Dec 28, 2014
Poetry Meter

This class explains what poetry meter is... and why you should care.





I'll apologize now...network is slow this end tonight.
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 9:23pm On Dec 28, 2014
Poetry meter - so what?

Meter is a way of measuring a line of poetry based on the rhythm of the words. But why should you care?

*As a reader, knowing about meter helps you understand how a poem is put together. You can see what rules the poet was following and how he or she used or went outside those rules. This lets you guess what was going through the poet's mind.

*If you want to write poetry, knowing about meter will make you a better poet. First, it helps you understand what poets have done in the past, so that you can learn from them. It allows you to use traditional forms such as sonnets. Even if you prefer to write in free verse, you should learn about traditional forms. Being aware of traditions gives you more flexibility to use aspects of them when you want to, or to "break the rules" in a more interesting way.
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:24pm On Dec 28, 2014
Poetry meter - stressed syllables and the iambic foot

Meter measures lines of poetry based on stressed and unstressed syllables.

I'll explain: When we speak, we put the stress on a certain part of each word. For example, take the words "apple" and "fantastic."

When we say the word "apple," we stress the first syllable, the "ap" part. We say "AP-ple," not "ap-PLE."

When we say the word "fantastic," we stress the second syllable. We say, "fan-TAS-tic," not "FAN-tas-tic" or "fan-tas-TIC."

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Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 9:28pm On Dec 28, 2014
In poetry, a unit of stressed and unstressed syllables is called a foot.

For example, look at this line from Shakespeare:

"No longer mourn for me when I am dead."

The rhythm is, "bah-BAH bah-BAH bah-BAH bah-BAH bah-BAH.

We read it like this: "no LON-ger MOURN for ME when I am DEAD."

The type of foot Shakespeare used here is called an iamb.

An iamb or an iambic foot has the rhythm bah-BAH.
An unstressed syllable, then a stressed one.

The iamb is the most common kind of foot in English poetry.

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Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:29pm On Dec 28, 2014
Here are three examples of words that have an iambic rhythm (bah-BAH).

> above (we say, "a-BOVE" )

> support (we say, "sup-PORT" )

> hurray (we say, "hur-RAY" ).

Here's a sentence written in iambic meter:
"His noisy snoring woke the neighbors' dog."
Bah-BAH bah-BAH bah-BAH bah-BAH bah-BAH.

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 9:32pm On Dec 28, 2014
O boy! shocked
Ayamlaykorn
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 9:33pm On Dec 28, 2014
Poetry meter - other types of foot:
The trochee or trochaic foot. This is the opposite of an iamb -- the rhythm is BAH-bah, like the words "apple," and "father."

The anapest or anapestic foot. This sounds like bah-bah-BAH, like the words "underneath" and "seventeen."

The dactyl or dactylic foot. This is the opposite of an anapest -- the rhythm is BAH-bah-bah," like the the words "elephant" and "stepmother."

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Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:34pm On Dec 28, 2014
[b]Poetry meter - counting the feet


When we think about the meter of poem, in addition to looking at the kind of foot, we count the number of feet in each line.

If there's one foot per line, it's monometer. Poetry written in monometer is very rare.

If there are are two feet per line, it's called dimeter.

Here's a sentence in trochaic dimeter:
"Eat your dinner."
BAH-bah (1) BAH-bah (2).

Three feet per line = trimeter.
Here's a sentence in iambic trimeter:
"I eat the bread and cheese."
Bah-BAH (1) bah-BAH (2) bah-BAH (3).

Four feet per line = tetrameter.
Here's a sentence in trochaic tetrameter:
"Father ordered extra pizza."
BAH-bah (1) BAh-bah (2) BAH-bah (3) BAh-bah (4).

Five feet per line = pentameter.
Here's a sentence in iambic pentameter:
"I'll toast the bread and melt a piece of cheese."
Bah-BAH (1) bah-BAH (2) bah-BAH (3) bah-BAH (4) bah-BAH (5).

Six feet per line = hexameter or Alexandrine.
A sentence in iambic hexameter:
"I'll toast the bread and melt a piece of cheese, okay?"
Bah-BAH (1) bah-BAH (2) bah-BAH (3) bah-BAH (4) bah-BAH (5) bah-BAH (6).

Seven feet per line = heptameter.

You get the idea...[/b]

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 9:37pm On Dec 28, 2014
shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked

Today's class dey hot wo! cheesy
Ayamlaykorn
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 9:39pm On Dec 28, 2014
Poetry meter - meter and rhythm

When you read metered poetry, such as a sonnet in iambic pentameter, you may notice that the meter is sometimes sounds uneven or is hard to hear. Meter is just a form of measurement. The real rhythm of a poem is more complicated than that:

None of us talk like robots. We give certain words and sounds more emphasis than others in a sentence, depending on a number of factors including the meaning of the words and our own personal speaking style. So not all of the stressed syllables have the same amount of stress, etc.

We pause at the ends of ideas or the ends of sentences, even if these occur partway through a poetic line. So this creates a rhythmically variation. When the sentence ends or has a natural pause in the middle of a line of poetry, that's called a caesura.

Poets vary meter or make exceptions in order to create desired rhythmic effects.

All of these elements combine to give each poem a unique music.
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:43pm On Dec 28, 2014
Poetry meter - keep reading and writing.


Now that you know more about "meter" try writing your own sonnet in iambic pentameter.


How To Write A Sonnet
Sonnet writing is easy when you understand what a sonnet is.
There are various types of sonnets, but I’m not going to talk about them and all their variations.
Instead, lets focus on the five things that most sonnets have in common:

1. They are written in iambic pentameter.
2. They are fourteen lines long.
3. They have a set rhyme scheme.
4. They have a turn or “volta.”
5. They all bear the name “sonnet.”
As an example, we will consider the sonnet “Death of a Sonnet writer” by Scott Ennis

He turned the fourteenth glass and said, “Begin.”
and I had fourteen minutes left to live;
and I had fourteen unrepented sins,
and fourteen people whom I would forgive,
and fourteen unread books upon my shelf,
and fourteen loves I knew I’d loved in vain,
and fourteen dreams I’d kept within myself
(the fourteen I’d most wanted to explain.)
But fourteen minutes quickly passed away.
I filled my pen with fourteen drops of ink-
the fourteenth glass had offered one delay;
and fourteen final grains retained the brink.
This sonnet flowed like fourteen final breaths-
the fourteenth line, the fourteenth grain, then death.

Everest and I have so enjoyed preparing and teaching these classes. As always we appreciate your being here with us.


Okay...Let's write!!

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 9:43pm On Dec 28, 2014
Youngcryta u've been in attendance in all the classes...I like ur spirit

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Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 9:45pm On Dec 28, 2014
EverestdeBliu:
Youngcryta u've been in attendance in all the classes...I like ur spirit
Mynd44 has been in attendance too.
I too embarassed
Ayamlaykorn
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 9:49pm On Dec 28, 2014
QUESTION TIME!!!
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by youngcrysta(f): 9:51pm On Dec 28, 2014
EverestdeBliu:
Youngcryta u've been in attendance in all the classes...I like ur spirit

thankz... I really have to commend you and everest, tonight's class was waoh!, keep it up

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:56pm On Dec 28, 2014
I hope everyone will try writing a sonnet. I will too. smiley
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:57pm On Dec 28, 2014
Thanks youngcrysta. smiley

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 9:59pm On Dec 28, 2014
@ninakurtz

Just checked your profile. Pretty eyes. Welcome. Thanks for coming.
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 10:02pm On Dec 28, 2014
Hmm embarassed
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 10:02pm On Dec 28, 2014
Thanks for tonight's class teachers,you are appreciated....
I guess we are writing a sonnet as our assignment?
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Mynd44: 10:02pm On Dec 28, 2014
texanomaly:
@ninakirtz

Just checked your profile. Pretty eyes. Welcome. Thanks for coming.
Link to the eyes please

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 10:06pm On Dec 28, 2014
Ghostlady:
Thanks for tonight's class teachers,you are appreciated....
I guess we are writing a sonnet as our assignment?

Yes. Can't wait to read yours. You've got a nice collection going. Nice taste in poets to showcase too.



I do wish you would change the tittle of your poetry collection though. "Random Ramblings" is the name of mine. wink
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 10:08pm On Dec 28, 2014
Mynd44:

Link to the eyes please

Here you go...

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 10:08pm On Dec 28, 2014
tongue
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 10:11pm On Dec 28, 2014
Mynd44 wants to see your eyes ninakurtz. Write him a sonnet about it. grin


Don't let him fool you. He's one of the "good guys". smiley
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 10:11pm On Dec 28, 2014
texanomaly:
@ninakurtz

Just checked your profile. Pretty eyes. Welcome. Thanks for coming.

thank you!

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Nobody: 10:12pm On Dec 28, 2014
texanomaly:


Yes. Can't wait to read yours. You've got a nice collection going. Nice taste in poets to showcase too.



I do wish you would change the tittle of your poetry collection though. "Random Ramblings" is the name of mine. wink
lol still thinking of a name embarassed
I ll change it soon....thanks for the complements on my little poems...lipsrsealed
please do check my last aSsignment...thanks smiley

1 Like

Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Mynd44: 10:12pm On Dec 28, 2014
texanomaly:


Here you go...
She is cute. I will write her an undark poem when I learn how to
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by Mynd44: 10:13pm On Dec 28, 2014
texanomaly:
Mynd44 wants to see your eyes ninakurtz. Write him a sonnet about it. grin


Don't let him fool you. He's one of the "good guys". smiley
I am not a good guy. Good guys get nothing except fix the girl for the jerks to make them fall in love.
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 10:14pm On Dec 28, 2014
Mynd44:

She is cute. I will write her an undark poem when I learn how to

Hahahahaha
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by texanomaly(f): 10:17pm On Dec 28, 2014
Mynd44:

I am not a good guy. Good guys get nothing except fix the girl for the jerks to make them fall in love.

Awwww...cry me a river. cry

One day your princess will come dear.
Re: Poetry Classes For Beginners - NPC (Signup Thread) by EverestdeBliu(m): 10:21pm On Dec 28, 2014
Ghostlady:
Thanks for tonight's class teachers,you are appreciated....
I guess we are writing a sonnet as our assignment?
Ghostlady luckily I saw u...yea let's all try out a SONNET as an assignment.

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