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Position:Home>Poetry> What is the purpose of meter in a poem?Question: What is the purpose of meter in a poem!? Besides for rhythm and better flow of words, is there another reason why poets use meter!? Why do they choose one specific kind of meter instead of another one!? Do any other elements of the poetry or the meaning of the poem get influenced by the meter!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Often meter is required for artistic or literary purpose!. Shakespeare's plays are written in iambic pentameter, a poetic verse scheme that most closely parallels natural English speech, so it is aptly suited for dialogue in his plays!. Verse and meter are used by Shakespeare and other poets when the situation or intent requires heightened language, imagery and emotion which could not otherwise be conveyed without a visual medium!. "Meter" is the "special effects" of literature; used to heighten the dramatic and poetic quality of prose and add grandeur, emotion and mystery to the most commonplace of events: "I saw a fork in a road" has little evocative effect, and could be misinterpreted as being too literal (was there really a "fork" in the road!?)!. But with the meters of poetry and verse added,a commonplce event becomes mysterious and evocative: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth Then took the other as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet, knowing how way leads onto way I doubted if I should ever come back I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence Two roads diverged in a wood And I took the one less traveled by And that has made all the difference" Robert FrostWww@QuestionHome@Com Poets could use a meter to create a diffrent and unique style of writting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Meter provides uniformity in verse!. It is especially important in "free verse"!. It makes the language assume a more lyrical tone!. However, "sing-song" verse is frowned upon!. Aside from iambic pentameter, I like the panegyric verse, especially as used by Robert Burns!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |