A Worked Example of the Seven-Step Method
We will be scanning a line by William Wordsworth.
Step One: Read the line aloud.
A sight so touching in its majesty
Step Two: Locate the polysyllables and their stresses.
/ / A sight so touching in its majesty
Step Three: Identify stressed monosyllables.
/ / / / A sight so touching in its majesty
Step Four: Mark the unstressed monosyllables
x / / / x x x / x x A sight so touching in its majesty
Step Five: Divide the preliminary scansion into feet.
x / | / / | x (/)| x /|x (/)A sight so touching in its majesty
Step Six: Make necessary adjustments.
x / | / / | x (/)| x /|x (/)A sight so touching in its majesty
Step Seven: Go back to step one.