Lyric Poetry and Musical DevicesMeter and Time

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Meter and Time

Like a heartbeat, the rhythm and time of language can be heard be everyone.

Even without knowing what the word mean we can hear the time. Read this aloud and tap your foot.

See snippet of “Jabberwocky” on next slide

Meter and Time

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

Meter and Time

Compare that to this section from the King James Bible.

This passage also has even meter. Tap your foot to find the time

See next slide for snippet from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Meter and Time

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;