Poe explains Shakespeare

A line may have too many syllables to fit the available space. To resolve this problem, you need to reduce length. You can shorten syllables to make them fit the space, or you can rearrange lines to take syllables away.

Problem 1B: Too many long syllables

When you have too many long syllables, you may be able to shorten them. A syllable is long when its letters require length; therefore, you can reduce length by removing letters. However, you can only remove letters when natural English usage allows it.

For example, in the first line of Edgar Allan Poe's "Alone," every syllable could be naturally long. To produce rhythmical feet, length must be reduced.

Vowels can be deleted if a word's meaning does not change. It won't sound the same, but it will still be understood. For example, if you say "I sh'll do it right away," a listener perceives shall, even though it sounds like shill (or shull). A vowel can be reduced only when listeners will perceive the same word.

Consonants can often be moved to other syllables. You can't delete a consonant without losing meaning; however, you can use natural pronunciation to reassign it to a different syllable. Thus jump over changes to jum pover; it's all becomes it sall; and take up becomes ta kup. A caret [ ^ ] may be used to indicate a reassigned consonant.

When you change long syllables to short, also keep in mind that you may then be able to squeeze them together with other short syllables.

Resolution 1B: Shorten long syllables.

A Rational Guide to Verse

or, Scansion Made Simple

Problem One: Too many syllables

Problem 1B: Too many long syllables

Resolution 1B: Shorten long syllables.

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