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Stilled 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 meter suggesting stillness, stagnation, or absence of rhythmic motion.

Detailed Definition
Stilled meter refers to a rhythmic pattern that slows dramatically or halts through caesura, end-stopping, or syllabic reduction, creating a sense of suspension or silence; this technique can heighten emotional gravity, mark revelation, or mimic the cessation of breath or thought.
Example
Example in poetry:
Stilled meter uses spondees or pauses to halt rhythm: “Stop. / Wait. / Listen.”; In elegies: “Earth. / Stone. / Silence.”; Contemporary: “Breathe. / Hold. / Release.”; Student example: stilled meter in pandemic poem: “Mask. / Distance. / Alone.”; Another: using caesuras to create stilled meter in war poem.
Additional Notes
Stilled meter is a descriptive term for a metrical pattern that is deliberately subdued, regular, and unobtrusive, often used to convey a sense of calm, quiet contemplation, or emotional restraint; related to enjambment which can 'still' the end-stop.
Also Known As
Silent meter still rhythm motionless measure Becalmed meter
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