Scansion is the close reading of a poem's meter by marking the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in its lines. It helps readers see how a poet builds rhythm, where the verse follows a regular metrical pattern, and where it intentionally varies that pattern for emphasis or effect.
Example
Shall I comPARE thee TO a SUMmer's DAY?
? / ? / ? / ? / ? /
The markings show the rising stress pattern of iambic pentameter.
Related Definitions
[n] analysis of verse into metrical patterns