Poetry Scanning Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve each exercise step by step, following the instructions in the Poetry Scanning Worksheet.

We will:

1. Mark stressed syllables with DUMM (for stressed) and de or – for unstressed.
2. Identify the dominant rhythmic pattern (iambic, trochaic, anapestic, dactylic).
3. Count how many feet are in each line (monometer, dimeter, trimeter, etc.).
4. Provide a two-word label like "iambic dimeter".

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✔ EXERCISE ONE

> The stag at eve had drunk his fill
> Where shines the moon on Mo nan’s rill.

Let’s break down each line.

#### Line 1:
The stag at eve had drunk his fill

Syllables:
- The (de)
- stag (DUMM)
- at (de)
- eve (DUMM)
- had (de)
- drunk (DUMM)
- his (de)
- fill (DUMM)

Pattern:
de DUMM de DUMM de DUMM de DUMM
→ de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

This is four iambs → iambic tetrameter

#### Line 2:
Where shines the moon on Mo nan’s rill

Syllables:
- Where (DUMM)
- shines (de)
- the (de)
- moon (DUMM)
- on (de)
- Mo (DUMM)
- nan’s (de)
- rill (DUMM)

Pattern:
DUMM de / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

Wait — this starts with DUMM de, which is trochaic, but then it becomes iambic.

But let's check again:

- Where (DUMM) – stressed
- shines (de) – unstressed → DUMM de = trochee
- the (de) – unstressed
- moon (DUMM) – stressed → de DUMM = iamb
- on (de) – unstressed
- Mo (DUMM) – stressed → de DUMM = iamb
- nan’s (de) – unstressed
- rill (DUMM) – stressed → de DUMM = iamb

So:
DUMM de / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

That’s: Trochee + Iamb + Iamb + Iamb

But since most of the poem is iambic, and only the first foot is trochaic, we can say the dominant pattern is iambic.

However, the first line is perfectly iambic tetrameter, and the second line begins with a trochee but follows with iambs.

Still, overall dominant rhythm is iambic.

But wait — let's recheck syllable stress more carefully.

Actually, “Where” is often pronounced with stress on the first syllable? But in poetry, “where” is usually unstressed when used as a relative pronoun.

Wait — “Where shines the moon…” — “where” is likely unstressed here.

Let’s try that:

- Where (de)
- shines (DUMM)
- the (de)
- moon (DUMM)
- on (de)
- Mo (DUMM)
- nan’s (de)
- rill (DUMM)

Now:
- de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

→ Iambic tetrameter

Yes! That makes more sense.

So both lines are:

de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

→ Iambic tetrameter

✔ Answer for Exercise One:
Iambic tetrameter

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✔ EXERCISE TWO

> Lit tle flit ting white fire in sect,
> Lit tle dan cing white fire crea ture,
> Light me with your lit tle can dle,
> Ere u pon my bed I lay me,
> Ere in sleep I close my eye lids.

Let’s scan each line.

#### Line 1:
Lit tle flit ting white fire in sect

Syllables:
- Lit (DUMM)
- tle (de)
- flit (DUMM)
- ting (de)
- white (DUMM)
- fire (de)
- in (DUMM)
- sect (de)

Pattern:
DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de

This is four trochees → trochaic tetrameter

#### Line 2:
Lit tle dan cing white fire crea ture

- Lit (DUMM)
- tle (de)
- dan (DUMM)
- cing (de)
- white (DUMM)
- fire (de)
- crea (DUMM)
- ture (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic tetrameter

#### Line 3:
Light me with your lit tle can dle

- Light (DUMM)
- me (de)
- with (DUMM)
- your (de)
- lit (DUMM)
- tle (de)
- can (DUMM)
- dle (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic tetrameter

#### Line 4:
Ere u pon my bed I lay me

- Ere (DUMM)
- u (de)
- pon (DUMM)
- my (de)
- bed (DUMM)
- I (de)
- lay (DUMM)
- me (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic tetrameter

#### Line 5:
Ere in sleep I close my eye lids

- Ere (DUMM)
- in (de)
- sleep (DUMM)
- I (de)
- close (DUMM)
- my (de)
- eye (DUMM)
- lids (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic tetrameter

✔ All lines follow trochaic tetrameter

Answer for Exercise Two:
Trochaic tetrameter

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✔ EXERCISE THREE

> The As syr ian came down like the wolf on the fold,
> And his co horts were gleam ing in pur ple and gold,
> And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
> When the blue wave rolls night ly on deep Ga li lee.

Let’s analyze.

#### Line 1:
The As syr ian came down like the wolf on the fold

Break into syllables:

- The (de)
- As (DUMM)
- syr (de)
- ian (DUMM)
- came (de)
- down (DUMM)
- like (de)
- the (de)
- wolf (DUMM)
- on (de)
- the (de)
- fold (DUMM)

Pattern:
de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

Wait — let’s group:

- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb

→ Six iambs → iambic hexameter

But let’s check if that’s correct.

Wait — “As syr ian” — “Assyrian” is pronounced: AS-sy-RI-an →
- AS (DUMM)
- sy (de)
- RI (DUMM)
- an (de)

So: DUMM de DUMM de → dactyl?

Wait — actually:
- As (DUMM)
- syr (de)
- ian (DUMM) → so DUMM de DUMM → dactyl

Then:
- came (de)
- down (DUMM) → de DUMM → iamb

So:
- DUMM de DUMM → dactyl
- de DUMM → iamb
- like (de)
- the (de)
- wolf (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest
- on (de)
- the (de)
- fold (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest

So:
- DUMM de DUMM (dactyl)
- de DUMM (iamb)
- de de DUMM (anapest)
- de de DUMM (anapest)

Not regular.

But let’s try to find the dominant pattern.

Let’s look at the second line:

> And his co horts were gleam ing in pur ple and gold

- And (de)
- his (DUMM)
- co (de)
- horts (DUMM)
- were (de)
- gleam (DUMM)
- ing (de)
- in (DUMM)
- pur (de)
- ple (DUMM)
- and (de)
- gold (DUMM)

Pattern:
de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

→ Six iambs → iambic hexameter

Now third line:

> And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea

- And (de)
- the (de)
- sheen (DUMM)
- of (de)
- their (DUMM)
- spears (de)
- was (DUMM)
- like (de)
- stars (DUMM)
- on (de)
- the (de)
- sea (DUMM)

→ de de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

Wait — starts with de de DUMM → anapest

Then:
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb

So: anapest + iamb × 4

But the last three lines seem to have iambic patterns.

Fourth line:

> When the blue wave rolls night ly on deep Ga li lee

- When (de)
- the (de)
- blue (DUMM)
- wave (de)
- rolls (DUMM)
- night (de)
- ly (DUMM)
- on (de)
- deep (DUMM)
- Ga (de)
- li (DUMM)
- lee (de)

Pattern:
de de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM

Again: anapest + five iambs?

Wait — “night ly” — “nightly” is one word: NIGHT-ly → DUMM de → iamb

“deep Ga li lee” → deep (DUMM), Ga (de), li (DUMM), lee (de) → DUMM de DUMM de → iamb + iamb

So:
- de de DUMM → anapest
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb

So: Anapest + five iambs → 6 feet total, but mixed.

But the second line is clearly iambic hexameter.

Let’s go back to line 1:

> The As syr ian came down like the wolf on the fold

- The (de)
- As (DUMM)
- syr (de)
- ian (DUMM) → de DUMM de DUMM → two iambs
- came (de)
- down (DUMM) → de DUMM → iamb
- like (de)
- the (de)
- wolf (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest
- on (de)
- the (de)
- fold (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest

So:
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de DUMM → iamb
- de de DUMM → anapest
- de de DUMM → anapest

Not consistent.

But looking at the whole poem, it seems to be iambic in structure, though irregular.

Wait — perhaps the dominant pattern is iambic, with some variations.

But let’s consider the most common foot.

Looking at line 2:
And his co horts were gleam ing in pur ple and gold

- de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM → iambic hexameter

Line 3:
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea

- de de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM → anapest + iamb × 4

Line 4:
When the blue wave rolls night ly on deep Ga li lee

- de de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM / de DUMM → same

So lines 3 and 4 start with anapest, then iambic.

But line 2 is pure iambic hexameter.

But line 1 has dactyl and anapest.

So no single dominant pattern?

Wait — maybe it’s iambic, but with initial anapests.

Alternatively, this might be iambic pentameter, but there are 6 feet?

Wait — let’s count syllables.

Line 2:
"And his co horts were gleam ing in pur ple and gold" →
1. And
2. his
3. co
4. horts
5. were
6. gleam
7. ing
8. in
9. pur
10. ple
11. and
12. gold → 12 syllables → 6 feet

But iambic hexameter is rare in English.

More likely: iambic pentameter with extra syllables.

But let’s check if it’s iambic with variation.

Perhaps the dominant rhythm is iambic, but not strictly regular.

But the worksheet says: “determine what dominant rhythmic pattern is used”

Let’s try marking all lines with iambic stress.

Try line 2 again:

- And (de)
- his (DUMM) → iamb
- co (de)
- horts (DUMM) → iamb
- were (de)
- gleam (DUMM) → iamb
- ing (de)
- in (DUMM) → iamb
- pur (de)
- ple (DUMM) → iamb
- and (de)
- gold (DUMM) → iamb

→ 6 iambs → iambic hexameter

Similarly, line 3:

- And (de)
- the (de) → de de → not iamb
- sheen (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest

So not iambic.

But perhaps the poem uses iambic meter with variations, but the dominant pattern is iambic.

But line 2 is pure iambic hexameter.

Lines 3 and 4 start with anapest.

But let’s look at line 1 again:

> The As syr ian came down like the wolf on the fold

- The (de)
- As (DUMM) → de DUMM → iamb
- syr (de)
- ian (DUMM) → de DUMM → iamb
- came (de)
- down (DUMM) → de DUMM → iamb
- like (de)
- the (de)
- wolf (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest
- on (de)
- the (de)
- fold (DUMM) → de de DUMM → anapest

So: iamb, iamb, iamb, anapest, anapest

So mostly iambic, but ends with anapests.

Given that line 2 is pure iambic hexameter, and others are mostly iambic, the dominant pattern is iambic, and the number of feet is six → iambic hexameter

But is that accurate?

Wait — iambic hexameter is six iambs per line.

But line 1 has only three iambs, then two anapests.

So not consistent.

Perhaps the dominant pattern is anapestic?

Let’s check:

- Anapest: de de DUMM

In line 1:
- “like the wolf” → de de DUMM → anapest
- “on the fold” → de de DUMM → anapest

In line 2:
No clear anapests.

In line 3:
- “of their spears” → de DUMM de → not anapest
- “was like stars” → de DUMM de → no

Only two anapests in line 1.

So not anapestic.

Maybe dactylic?

Dactyl: DUMM de de

In line 1:
- “As syr ian” → DUMM de DUMM → not dactyl

No.

So perhaps the dominant pattern is iambic, with some variation, and each line has about 6 feet, so iambic hexameter.

But given the irregularity, it might be iambic pentameter with extra syllables.

But the best answer based on line 2 being pure iambic hexameter and others having iambic tendencies, we can say:

✔ Answer for Exercise Three:
Iambic hexameter

(Though it's irregular, the dominant pattern is iambic, and there are six feet.)

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✔ EXERCISE FOUR

> Can non to right of them,
> Can non to left of them,
> Can non in front of them,
> Vol leyed and thun dered.

Let’s scan.

#### Line 1:
Can non to right of them

- Can (DUMM)
- non (de)
- to (DUMM)
- right (de)
- of (DUMM)
- them (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic trimeter

#### Line 2:
Can non to left of them

Same:
- Can (DUMM)
- non (de)
- to (DUMM)
- left (de)
- of (DUMM)
- them (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic trimeter

#### Line 3:
Can non in front of them

- Can (DUMM)
- non (de)
- in (DUMM)
- front (de)
- of (DUMM)
- them (de)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic trimeter

#### Line 4:
Vol leyed and thun dered

- Vol (DUMM)
- leyed (de)
- and (DUMM)
- thun (de)
- dered (DUMM)

→ DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM → trochaic trimeter

Note: “thundered” is THUN-dered → DUMM de → trochee

So:
- Vol leyed → DUMM de
- and thun → DUMM de
- dered → DUMM → but only one syllable? No — “dered” is de-red, so de DUMM?

Wait — “thundered” is pronounced THUN-dered →
- THUN (DUMM)
- dered (de) → DUMM de → trochee

So:
- Vol (DUMM)
- leyed (de) → DUMM de → trochee
- and (DUMM)
- thun (de) → DUMM de → trochee
- dered (DUMM) → but “dered” is de-red → de DUMM → iamb?

Wait — “thundered” is THUN-dered →
- THUN (DUMM)
- dered (de) → so DUMM de → trochee

So the last word is DUMM de → trochee

So:
- Vol leyed → DUMM de → trochee
- and thun → DUMM de → trochee
- dered → DUMM de → trochee

But “dered” is de-red, so de DUMM? No — “thundered” is THUN-dered, so THUN is stressed, dered is unstressed → DUMM de

So yes: DUMM de / DUMM de / DUMM de → trochaic trimeter

✔ Answer for Exercise Four:
Trochaic trimeter

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Exercise One:
Iambic tetrameter

#### Exercise Two:
Trochaic tetrameter

#### Exercise Three:
Iambic hexameter (though irregular, dominant pattern is iambic with six feet)

#### Exercise Four:
Trochaic trimeter

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Summary Table:

| Exercise | Rhythmic Pattern | Number of Feet | Label |
|--------|------------------|----------------|-------|
| One | Iambic | 4 | Iambic tetrameter |
| Two | Trochaic | 4 | Trochaic tetrameter |
| Three | Iambic | 6 | Iambic hexameter |
| Four | Trochaic | 3 | Trochaic trimeter |

Let me know if you'd like the scanned versions with marks!