CHAPTER VII. POETRY. POETRY is commonly defined to be, "the language of passion, or of enlivened imagination." It is most generally formed into regular numbers, called poetic feet, and has two general divisions; rhyme, and blank verse. In rhyme, the terminating words or syllables in two or more lines correspond in sound. In blank-verse, the lines are measured as in rhyme, but the last words or syllables do not harmonize. The earliest accounts which history gives us concerning all nations, bear testimony to the fact, that the first words ever recorded by writing, or transmitted by tradition, were of a poetic character. SECTION I. CONSTRUCTION OF VERSE IN RHYME. 1. A POETIC FOOT consists of a particular arrangement and connection of accented and unaccented syllables. It is called a foot with reference to a measured time in pronouncing it, and always embraces either two or three syllables. 2. QUANTITY, with reference to the reading of poetry, denotes the time of pronouncing each syllable. 3. A SYLLABLE in scanning, is considered long or short. A long syllable usually requires, relatively, twice the length of time of a short one, in pronunciation. QUESTIONS. What is poetry? How is it generally formed, and what are its general divisions? What is the distinction between rhyme and blank-verse? What testimony does history bear in regard to poetry? What is a poetic foot, and why is it so called? What is quantity, with reference to the reading of poetry? How are syllables considered in scanning? What is their relative time? 4. ACCENTED Syllables are always considered long, and unaccented ones, short. The long syllables are marked thus (-); and the short ones, thus (~). 5. SCANNING is the resolving or dividing of verses into the respective feet of which they are composed. The following are the names of poetic feet, with the characters denoting the order, number, and relative quantity of their syllables: The Iambus is in most common use, and the Trochee and Anapest are the next frequent. The Spondee is only thrown in for variety or harmony. A verse consisting purely of Dactyls, rarely occurs; and Amphibrach and Tribrach, are measures for which we have no use in English compositions, except as they are occasionally thrown in with other measures, for the sake of variety. 1. Iambic Verse. The Iambus is a poetic foot, consisting of a short syllable and a long one; as, betray. There are seven forms of this verse, each of which is distinguished by the number of feet it contains. The first, consists of one iambic foot, and the last, of seven. 1. The first and shortest form of iambic verse, consists of one iambic foot, with an additional short syllable. The QUESTIONS. HOW may accented syllables be distinguished? How marked? What is scanning? What kinds of poetic feet are here illustrated? Which is in most common use? Which next? How is the spondee used? What is said of the dactyl, amphibrach, and tribrach? Of what does an iambus consist? Which syllable is accented? Which unaccented? How many forms has iambic verse? Of what does the first form consist? additional syllable in this, and in all the following forms of verse, is italicised. EXAMPLE. Dividing, Astound | ěd, Confiding, Confounded. NOTE. Although this form is usually denominated iambic, still it might with great propriety be called amphibrach, which consists of three syllables, marked thus (-U). 2. The second form of iambic verse, consists of two iambic feet. NOTE. This form sometimes appends an additional short syllable. EXAMPLE. With what commō | tion, 3. The third form of iambic verse, consists of three iambio feet, to which there is sometimes added one long syllable. It admits a spondee or trochee for the first foot. EXAMPLE. No burn | ing heat | by day, 4. The fourth form of iambic verse, consists of four iambio feet. It admits a spondee or trochee for any foot except the last. EXAMPLE. With dying hānd, | åbōve | his head, Hě shook | thě frāg | měnt of | his blāde. QUESTIONS. What might the first form with greater propriety be called? Of what does the second form consist? The third? What does the third form admit? Of what does the fourth form consist? What does it admit? 5. The fifth form of iambic verse, has five iambic feet. A trochee, and sometimes a pyrrhic, may be substituted for an iambus, in any place, but the last; and sometimes a short syllable is appended to the line. Heroic verse, or epic poetry & is written in this form. EXAMPLE. Thy forests, Wind | sor,b and thy green | retreats, At once | the mōn | ǎrch's ānd | thè mūs | ĕ's seats. 6. The sixth form of iambic verse, consists of six iambic feet, and is usually called the Alexandrine. It is used singly, and at the end of a paragraph. EXAMPLE. Ă need | less Āl | ĕxān | drine ēnds | the song, That like ǎ wound | ed snake | drags īts | slow length | ulōng. 7. The seventh form of iambic verse, contains seven iambic feet. EXAMPLE. The melancholy days | ǎre cōme, | the sad | děst of | thě year, Ŏf wail |ing winds | ǎnd nā | ked woods, | ǎnd mead | Ŏws brown and sure. NOTE. This form is rarely used, and instead thereof, the lines alternately contain four and three feet. EXAMPLE. The melanchol | ỹ days | åre come, The saddest of the year, of wailing winds | ǎnd nā | ked woods, And meadows brown | ănd sēre. Epic poetry, a poem describing the exploits of some hero. b Windsor, a town in England celebrated for its castle. It has a beautiful forest of fifty-six miles in circuit. QUESTIONS. Of what does the fifth form consist? What does this form admit as nbstitutes? What peculiar kind of verse is written in this form? Of what does the sixth form consist? What is it sometimes called? What does the seventh form contain? Is this form much used? 2. Trochaic Verse. The Trochee is a poetic foot, consisting of one long and one short syllable; as, hateful. There are six forms of this verse; the first, consisting of one trochaic foot, and the last, of six. 1. The first and shortest form of trochaic verse, has one trochaic foot, with an additional long syllable. EXAMPLE. Dreadful gleams, Lightnings flush, Dismǎl | screams, Thunders crash. 2. The second form of trochaic verse, has two trochaic feet. EXAMPLE. Rich the treasure, Joyous meeting, Sweet the pleasure, Happy greeting. NOTE. To the above form, a long syllable is sometimes added. EXAMPLE. Sōund the trumpēts | sōund, Let the joy gŏ | ròund. 3. The third form of trochaic verse, has three trochaic feet. EXAMPLE. Come ye weary | strāngĕrs, Once more free from dangers. NOTE. To the above form, a long syllable is frequently added. EXAMPLE. Restless | mōrtăls | toīl för | naŭght, Blīss in vain from | earth is | sõught. QUESTIONS. Of what does the trochee consist? Which syllable is accented? How many forms has trochaic verse? Of what does the first form consist? The second? The third? |