Answer:
The last foot (the anceps) always consists of two syllables so mark it so immediately. You can
regard the very last syllable as an unknown vowel length and mark it as an X (it will normally be
pronounced long no matter what)
2. The second to last foot is almost always a dactyl so mark it so immediately
3. The first syllable of every line of poetry is long no-matter-what so mark it so immediately.
4. The thesis (first syllable) of a foot is always long
5. The arsis (the second half) of a foot will either be one long or two shorts: there can be no
mixing and matching in the second half of the foot
Explanation:
