Scansion facts for kids

Scansion is a way to understand the rhythm of poetry. It's like finding the beat in a song, but for words! When you scan a poem, you look at each line and figure out which syllables are stressed (said with more emphasis) and which are unstressed (said more softly).

By doing this, you can see how the poet created a special musical pattern with their words. This pattern is called the poem's meter.

What is Scansion?

Scansion is the process of breaking down lines of poetry into smaller parts called feet. A foot is a group of two or three syllables that has a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed sounds. Think of it like a musical measure in a song.

When you scan, you mark the stressed syllables (often with a symbol like a slash '/') and the unstressed syllables (often with a symbol like a 'u' or a short curved line). This helps you see the poem's rhythm visually.

Why Do Poets Use Rhythm?

Poets use rhythm and meter to make their poems more interesting and impactful. It can:

• Create a certain mood or feeling.
• Help the poem flow smoothly when read aloud.
• Emphasize certain words or ideas.
• Make the poem memorable, like a catchy tune.

Many famous poets, like William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, carefully chose their words to fit specific rhythms.

Common Types of Poetic Feet

There are several common types of feet used in English poetry. Here are a few you might find:

Iamb

An iamb is a two-syllable foot where the first syllable is unstressed and the second is stressed. It sounds like "da-DUM."

• Example: "a-bout" or "be-low"
• Many of Shakespeare's plays are written in "iambic pentameter," meaning each line has five iambs.

Trochee

A trochee is the opposite of an iamb. It's a two-syllable foot where the first syllable is stressed and the second is unstressed. It sounds like "DUM-da."

• Example: "gar-den" or "hap-py"

Anapest

An anapest is a three-syllable foot with two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. It sounds like "da-da-DUM."

• Example: "un-der-stand" or "in the dark"

Dactyl

A dactyl is a three-syllable foot with one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables. It sounds like "DUM-da-da."

• Example: "mer-ri-ly" or "po-e-try"

How to Scan a Poem

Scanning a poem takes practice, but here are the basic steps:

• Read the poem aloud: This is the most important step! Listen to how the words naturally sound. Where do you put emphasis?
• Identify syllables: Break each word into its individual syllables.
• Mark stressed and unstressed syllables: For each syllable, decide if it's stressed or unstressed. You can use a 'u' for unstressed and a '/' for stressed.
• Divide into feet: Group the syllables into feet based on their patterns (like iambs, trochees, etc.).
• Name the meter: Once you've found the type of foot, count how many feet are in each line. For example, five iambs in a line is "iambic pentameter."

Scansion helps you appreciate the musicality and artistry of poetry even more!

Images for kids

• 

  An example of scansion over a quote from Alexander Pope

See also

• Escansión para niños (In Spanish)