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Beyond meter

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A syllabic or structural element of poetry that occurs outside the defined metrical system

Detailed Definition
Poetic elements that fall outside the constraints of formal meter, such as extra syllables, irregular stress patterns, or deliberate departures from rhythmic norms. Beyond meter effects can highlight meaning, break monotony, or introduce conversational dynamics into formal verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
A haiku with an extra syllable beyond 5-7-5; A sonnet line stretched with an additional phrase; Free verse inserting irregular line breaks mid thought; Blank verse including an unexpected extra stress
Additional Notes
Refers to elements outside strict metrical count; often intentional to create emphasis or variation; important when scanning irregular verse.
Also Known As
Extra-metrical rhythm Outside measure Beyond scansion Irregular meter Extrametrical
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