Christopher Aruffo, MFA, MBA, MSc, PhD

A Rational Guide to Verse

or, Scansion Made Simple

Problem Two:  Not enough syllables

A line may not have enough syllables to fill the required space.  To resolve this problem, you need to increase length.  You can expand syllables to make them fill the space, or you can insert pauses to stand in for missing syllables and feet.

Problem 2A:  Not enough long syllables

Lines should be equal to each other, but every foot requires at least one long syllable.  A line may not have enough long syllables to support the required number of feet.  When this happens, you can create more long syllables by stressing shorts.

An example can be found in Shakespeare's Othello.  One of Cassio's verses, spoken naturally, produces an unequal line.  The line needs five feet, but it has only four long syllables.

      ,      ,         ,      ,          ,
This ve|ry night | at one | ano|ther's heels,   (five feet)
     ,   3  3     ,           ,          ,
And ma|ny of the con|suls, raised | and met     (four feet)

Stressing a short syllable helps create a fifth foot, making the line equal.

      ,      ,         ,      ,          ,
This ve|ry night | at one | ano|ther's heels,   (five feet)
     ,     ,        ,           ,          ,
And ma|ny of | the con|suls, raised | and met   (five feet)

Any short syllable can be stressed.  It won't always work-- you can't put emPHAsis on the wrong sylLABle-- but you can always try it.  When there aren't enough long syllables to fill out your feet, try stressing shorts.

Resolution 2A:  Stress short syllables.

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