Class

Catch the Beat: Reading and Writing in Meter

Music and poetry are some of the oldest human art forms, even predating written language. This relationship still exists, and our class will focus on rhythm. Meter is an expression of music in poetry that tracks the rhythm of lines and stanzas. We will review and practice the rules to best read (and potentially write) poems in meter.

You may remember that Shakespeare wrote plays and poems in iambic pentameter. Many poets still write in and experiment with iambic pentameter and meter today. Learning to write in meter or to scan (scansion is counting the rhythm of a line of poetry) is like learning to read music. The problem is that the rules are opaque and often confusing. Let’s make it simple.

During our single session class, we will read selections of poems from different eras of poetry in the English language. By discussing the origins of English poetic tradition, we can track how meter has evolved: from someone like Chaucer to Emily Dickinson to Richard Wilbur. We will explore the reasons why iambic pentameter is the dominant rhythm for poetry in English. We will conclude the class with a writing exercise to try writing in meter first hand.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.