Review the metric pattern in “Old Ironsides.” How does this meter reflect the poem’s subject matter?
I know this is not a do your homework website. I have been on this question forever. I only know the definition to a meter. So I would really like some help with what the meter is and how a meter generally effects a poem. Thank you
LIl Boat!!!!
http://www.eldritchpress.org/owh/oldiron.html
This one?
The meter in the first two lines is repeated all the way through; each couplet has the same meter.
Ay, TEAR her TATtered ENsign DOWN!
LONG has it WAVED on high,
iambic tetrameter
dactylic dimeter
Do you hear it? Have you read the poem aloud -- with great emphasis on the syllables that I've capitalized and their counterparts in the other lines?
Ok now I understand what the meter is. I still don't understand how stressing these syllables would effect the poem.
Also whats the the poem’s subject matter? This poem uses to many nonword that I can't pick it out.
What do you mean by "nonword"?
Be sure to scroll down in that first linked webpage I gave you, and read the Author's Note. There's a good explanation there of why this poem was written.
I would be happy to help you with understanding the meter in the poem "Old Ironsides" and how it reflects the poem's subject matter.
Meter in poetry refers to the rhythmic structure of a poem, determined by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. In order to analyze the meter of a poem, you need to identify the specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables and group them into metrical feet. Common metrical feet include iambic (unstressed-stressed), trochaic (stressed-unstressed), anapestic (unstressed-unstressed-stressed), and dactylic (stressed-unstressed-unstressed). Counting syllables and determining the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables will help you identify the meter.
Now, let's apply this understanding to "Old Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The general meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, which means there are five metrical feet per line, and each foot consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Let's take a few lines as examples:
"Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!"
"Long has it waved on high,"
"And many an eye has danced to see"
"That banner in the sky."
In these lines, you can identify the unstressed and stressed syllables. By repeating this pattern throughout the poem, the poet creates a steady and flowing rhythm, which adds a sense of dignity and solemnity to the poem. The iambic pentameter pattern in "Old Ironsides" creates a sense of stability and balance, reflecting the subject matter of the poem, which is about the old warship USS Constitution and the desire to preserve its historical significance. The steady, measured rhythm enhances the theme of strength and resilience, mirroring the enduring nature of the ship itself.
Understanding the meter of a poem can help you appreciate the underlying rhythm and musicality of the text, allowing you to connect it to the poem's overall meaning and theme. I hope this explanation helps you analyze the meter of "Old Ironsides" and how it relates to the poem's subject matter.