Tutor for Meter/Scansion?

[Shira]

Does anyone out there have a PhD in poetry....and would you be willing to help me learn meter and scansion? I'm attempting to be self-taught in the craft of poetry, but this really has me baffled, even after reading several books. Thanks! :)

[jon1jt]

I don't have a Ph.D in poetry and you're probably not going to find any one that does in here. Meter and scansion are beautiful poetic forms, and most people who write poetry stick to free verse...largely for the same reason you're having trouble with it! I still think any poem written in meter is better than the kind of stuff you often see today, including my own work!! Keep at it!!!...don't get frustrated...I commend you for your initiative to be self-taught in this wonderful art form!!

[subterranean]

Just curious, are these so called meter and scansion, can only be taught well by a PhD?

[jon1jt]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read it. What is this fixation with advanced degrees?!

[Petrarch's Love]

Though I'm halfway through a PhD program, I'm inclined to agree with the last few posts that higher education is not a prerequisite for understanding meter (after all Shakespeare never went to university:-). That said, I think you may find the following site very useful:

http://academic.reed.edu/english/intra/index.html#TOC

It has detailed explanations and interactive exercises for learning the fine art of scansion. Best of luck in your endeavors.

[mousemouse]

Here's a little help for you: Poe wrote an essay about his own poem "The Raven" (sorry I can't remember whar it's called) but I do remember, that it is an easy read, with a lot of good explanations. Both when it comes to meters and scansions. but also as to why some words go well together and how to set the mood in a poem.
(He really thought that poem through!!!)

[Petrarch's Love]

The title of Poe's essay is "The Philosophy of Composition" and I know it is available in a book called Classic Writings on Poetry edited by William Harmon, though I'm sure you can find it elsewhere too.

[mousemouse]

Yup!! that's the one I was thinking about. I really think this could help, even though I am inclined to believe, that you have to find your own way of writing if the result should be really good..

[naphelge]

well this is a bit of an old post, but I am just starting to look at poetry analysis and this might be just what I was looking for.


http://academic.reed.edu/english/intra/index.html#TOC
The link still works :) and I had no problems finding Poe's essay on composition.


I really think this could help, even though I am inclined to believe, that you have to find your own way of writing if the result should be really good.
For me, I am not looking to write anything of my own, just yet anyways. I am just having difficulty nailing down stressed and unstressed syllables in my poetry intro uni course. It sounds pretty basic, but I am anything but consistent on everyhing I have thus far tried. So, I hope this helps. It looks promising.

cheers,
nap

[Il Dante]

Though I'm halfway through a PhD program, I'm inclined to agree with the last few posts that higher education is not a prerequisite for understanding meter (after all Shakespeare never went to university:-). That said, I think you may find the following site very useful:

http://academic.reed.edu/english/intra/index.html#TOC

It has detailed explanations and interactive exercises for learning the fine art of scansion. Best of luck in your endeavors.

Wow! That's a great site!

Thanks for posting.

[Petrarch's Love]

Glad to see that link is useful for people and that there are some people interested in the art of scansion. It is a good site. I believe this is the first post I ever made on these forums. Taking me back.