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  1. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Is there a limit to metrical line-length?

    Discussion in 'The Craft of Writing Poetry' started by OurJud, Mar 4, 2018.

    Pentameter is a line of five feet, which when writing in my A5 notebook will only just fit on a line. This got me thinking about longer forms of meter, and whether there is a limit to how long a metrical line can be, and if not how are line breaks indicated when the meter count exceeds that of the page width? *

    * I'm talking specifically about poems in print, not how we the individual handles it
     
  2. The Dapper Hooligan

    The Dapper Hooligan (V) ( ;,,;) (v) Contributor

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    If a line of poetry is longer than the what a line will fit on the page, you just tab on the second line, or possibly more, line(s).
     
  3. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    No, once again I probably haven't explained very well.

    If I tried to write a line of iambic pentameter (ten syllables, with five feet) in a tiny pocket notebook, said line would not fit on a single line of the notebook, but in that the line is in strict meter, I'm guessing I can't carry that line over, because then I would have two lines, when a metrical line should only be on one.

    For instance, the following is a line in iambic pentameter:

    The iron door will keep the baddies out.

    But what if the page width was not long enough?

    The iron door will keep
    the baddies out.

    Does that not then disqualify this from being a line of iambic pentameter?

    What I'm saying, is that because line breaks are an important poetic tool, what happens when the line break is forced by page width, rather than coming where the poet decides?
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2018
  4. OJB

    OJB A Mean Old Man Contributor

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    At 7 or 8 feet, it becomes difficult to maintain the Rhythm, The lines are just hard to control. I recently had to write a section of my narrative poem is Hexameter (6 feet) and it was very difficult.
     
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  5. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    So in print, the problem of a line break being forced by page width simply doesn't occur?
     
  6. The Dapper Hooligan

    The Dapper Hooligan (V) ( ;,,;) (v) Contributor

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    You use a tab, (or indent. ED)

    The iron door will keep
    the baddies out
     
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  7. OJB

    OJB A Mean Old Man Contributor

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    The Raven is written in Trochee octameter (8 feet.) I believe it fits on a page.
     
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  8. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Holy crap! Is that what those indents are for?

    That said, I've seen these indents used in print, when there's plenty of room on the page to have it on the same line.
     
  9. The Dapper Hooligan

    The Dapper Hooligan (V) ( ;,,;) (v) Contributor

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    That and others. Some people use them to break up lines so they can make the actual block of print just look prettier or fit a particular look they wanted for the poem. In Shakespeare you'll see them when another character cuts their pentameter short or is interrupted and another character finishes it off, but the basic gist is letting the reader know that the indented line is rhythmically/metrically linked to the line before it. Though, as with everything, there are exceptions.
     
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