Examples of Meter in Sonnets

Understanding Meter in Sonnets

Meter is the rhythmic structure of a poem, and in sonnets, it plays a crucial role in conveying emotion and meaning. Sonnets typically follow specific metrical patterns, most commonly iambic pentameter, which consists of five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables. In this guide, we’ll explore three diverse examples of meter in sonnets, breaking them down to help you understand how they work in practice.

Example 1: The Classic Iambic Pentameter

Context

This example showcases the traditional iambic pentameter, which is the most common meter in English sonnets. It provides a rhythmic and melodic flow that enhances the beauty of the poem.

Example

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Notes

This excerpt from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 illustrates the beauty of iambic pentameter, with each line consisting of ten syllables arranged in five iambs. Variations can occur in sonnets, but the meter remains primarily consistent.

Example 2: A Variation with Trochaic Feet

Context

While iambic pentameter is prevalent, some poets experiment with different metrical feet for effect. This example uses a trochaic meter to create a distinctive rhythm that can evoke different emotions.

Example

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow—
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

Notes

This excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Dream Within a Dream” employs trochaic meter, where stressed syllables precede unstressed ones. This variation creates a more urgent and haunting feel, demonstrating how meter can influence the poem’s emotional resonance.

Example 3: A Mix of Iambic and Variations

Context

This example explores a sonnet that primarily uses iambic pentameter but incorporates variations to create tension and emphasize certain moments, showcasing the flexibility of meter.

Example

When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Happily I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Notes

This excerpt from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 predominantly follows iambic pentameter but includes variations that enhance emotional depth. The shifts in rhythm help to express the speaker’s internal conflict, making the poem more dynamic and engaging.

By exploring these examples of meter in sonnets, you can better appreciate how rhythm contributes to the overall impact of poetry. Whether you’re writing your own sonnet or analyzing a classic, understanding meter will enhance your poetic journey.