Question

Can someone help me with the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables?

I have been given a poetry-related assignment and need to find the meter of a couple of lines. The problem is that I cannot tell the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables, even by watching a ton of videos on it. For example, how can I tell which syllables are longer (they all seem the same length to me)? How do I know which syllable is the loudest (I pronouce all syllables at the same volume)? Lastly, how do I know which syllable is pitched higher?

Answer 1

Hello! In my understanding, what you stress or don't stress depends on what you are trying to convey. What is your intended meaning? What do you want your audiences to really hear and understand?

The ones that are longer, higher, and louder would be the stressed syllables. So in the videos of the poems, listen for which syllables are held for a longer duration, at a higher pitch, and at a (slightly) louder volume.

To identify them, it's tricky because what you said is true: they all sound the same. But that's because the stressed syllables are usually only SLIGHTLY louder, higher, and longer.

My tip is to really listen carefully. I've noticed that it tends to be every other syllable, or every two or three syllables.

For example, I will put asterisks on the stressed syllables.

She *screams* for *ice* cream because she *wants* creamy, cold *goodness.*

However, when said aloud, it wouldn't be extremely exaggerated. Just at a slight change in volume, pitch, and length, and then the meaning becomes clearer! Hopefully that helps:)