# Help with scanning poetry appreciated

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-scanning-poetry-appreciated/98076>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 13, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-scanning-poetry-appreciated/98076 "2002-03-13T16:28:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-scanning-poetry-appreciated/98076/1 "2002-03-13T16:28:14Z")

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Since I’m a non-native I have some trouble scanning the metrical pattern and therefore unable to recite poetry properly. This short passage is from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I have marked what I think are strong and weak stresses but it doesn’t seem right. First of all, excluding the first line, none of the lines is in iambic pentameter, which I understand was used a lot by Shakespeare. So I think it isn’t quite right. Any help would be…well helpful 🙂 (/=strong stress U=weak)

Ok, from the preview I noticed that the stresses won’t be properly aligned but I think it’s easy to understand what goes where in my version.

/ U / U / / U /  
If we shadows have offended,

/ U / U / U U /  
Think but this, and all is mended:

U / U / U / U  
That you have but slumbered here

U / U / U U /  
While these visions did appear;

U / U U U /  
And this weak and idle theme,

/ U U / U U /  
No more yielding but a dream,

/ U / U / U /  
Gentles, do not reprehend ;

U / U / U / /  
If you pardon , we will mend.

U U / / U U / /  
And, as I am an honest Puck,

/ U / U / /  
If we have unearnéd luck

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-scanning-poetry-appreciated/98076/2 "2002-03-13T18:45:58Z")

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Yes, the Bard was fond of iambic pentameter, but these particular lines are in trocheic tetrameter: Four feet of a long and a short each. In the seven-syllable lines, the last short is ommitted. The exception is the line “And as I am an honest Puck”, which is iambic: “And **as** I **am** an **hon** est **Puck** ”. Also note that in the last line, the accent mark over the e in “unearnéd” indicates that it’s three syllables: “un **earn** éd”.

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**Author:** ![crazy4chaucer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@crazy4chaucer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazy4chaucer)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-scanning-poetry-appreciated/98076/3 "2002-03-13T21:34:19Z")

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This is how I’d scan the piece:

If we **shadows** have **offended** ,  
Think but **this** , and **all** is **mended,**  
That you **have** but **slumber’d** here  
While these **visions** did **appear**.  
And this **weak** and **idle** theme,  
No more **yielding** but a **dream** ,  
**Gentles** , do not repre **hend** ;  
if **you pardon** , **we** will **mend** ;  
**And** , as I am an **honest** Puck  
If we **have** un **earn** ed luck  
**Now** to **'scape** the **ser** pent’s **tongue**  
We will make **amends** ere **long;**  
So, good **night** unto you **all**.  
**Give** me your **hands** ,  
if **we** be **friends,**  
And **Ro** bin shall **restore amends.**"

And I’m sure you’ll hear a multitude of other opinions. Hope this helps, though!