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spontaneous 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 metrical pattern arising naturally and fluidly without strict prosodic control

Detailed Definition
Spontaneous meter describes rhythmic patterns that emerge organically during composition rather than adhering to predetermined metrical rules; common in free verse and oral poetry, it reflects the natural cadences of speech or thought, prioritizing expressive flow over formal regularity.
Example
Example in poetry:
Meter emerging from natural speech: Whitman’s cadences; Free verse following breath; Beat poetry’s organic rhythms; Confessional poetry’s conversational meter
Additional Notes
Spontaneous meter describes verse that follows an observable rhythm or pattern (a meter) that arises naturally from the language and emotional flow of the composition, rather than being imposed by a strict, pre-determined metrical rule.
Also Known As
Improvised meter free meter spontaneous rhythm Autogenic rhythm
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