Scan the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”.
Scanning a poem means analyzing its rhythm and meter. You do this by marking stressed (´) and unstressed (˘) syllables in each line. This process shows the poem’s pattern and flow. Many English poems follow metrical forms like iambic pentameter (˘ ´) or trochaic tetrameter (´ ˘). Scansion helps uncover the rhythm and pacing intended by the poet. To scan, read each line carefully and mark the syllables. This reveals the poem’s musicality and structure. This makes it easier to understand the poet's style.
Whŏse woóds/ thĕse áre/ Ĭ thínk/ Ĭ knów.
Hĭs hoúse/ĭs ín/ thĕ víl/ lăge, thoúgh;
Hĕ wíll /nŏt seé/ mĕ stóp/ pĭng hére
Tŏ wátch/ hĭs woóds/ fíll úp /wĭth snów.
My̆ lít/ tlĕ hórse/ mŭst thínk/ ĭt queér
Tŏ stóp/ wĭthóut/ ǎ fárm/ hŏuse neár
Bĕtweén/ thĕ woóds/ ănd fróz/ ĕn láke
Thě dárk/ est éve/ ning óf/ thĕ yeár.
Hĕ gíves/ hĭs hár/ nĕss bélls/ ă sháke
Tŏ ásk/ ĭf thére/ Ĭs sóme/ mĭstáke.
Thĕ ón/ ly̆ ó/ thĕr soúnd's/ thĕ sweép
Ŏf éas/y̆ wínd/ ănd dówn/ y̆ fláke.
Thĕ woóds/ ăre lóve/ ly̆, dárk,/ ănd deép.
Bŭt ĺ / hăve pró/mĭsés/ tŏ keép,
Ănd míles/ tŏ gó/ bĕfóre /Ĭ sleép,
Ănd míles/ tŏ gó/ bĕfóre /Ĭ sleép.
Prosodic Name: This scansion shows the metrical structure of the poem, with the first, second, and fourth lines of each stanza having four iambs (pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables) and the third line having three iambs, creating a consistent rhythm throughout the poem.