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Upward 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 in which stress or emphasis progressively increases toward the end of the line, creating rising intensity.

Detailed Definition
Upward meter denotes a metrical pattern characterized by rising stress—such as the iamb (unstressed-stressed) or anapest (unstressed-unstressed-stressed)—that creates a sense of forward momentum, optimism, or building energy; this contrasts with falling meters like trochees, which often convey solemnity or decline.
Example
Example in poetry:
Iambic meter (unstressed-stressed) creating a rising rhythm: “be-fore,” “a-rise,” “re-turn”; Anapestic meter (da-da-DUM) producing upward lift: “in-ter-rupt,” “un-der-stand”; Trochaic meter reversed to iambic for elevation; Meter that mimics climbing or flight through rhythmic ascent
Additional Notes
Upward meter: A metrical pattern dominated by rising feet like the iamb (∪−) and the anapest (∪∪−), where the stress falls on the last syllable of the foot, creating a sense of propulsion or forward movement.
Also Known As
Rising meter Ascending rhythm Upward measure Ascensive rhythm
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