How is the metrical pattern described in A Wife in London?

• A. Regular iambic pentameter
• B. Consistent tetrameter
• C. Varied and inconsistent metre
• D. Strict trochaic pattern

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that the poem uses an irregular rhythm to express emotion. A Wife in London doesn’t sit into a single, steady beat. The lines vary in length and stress, moving between longer, flowing phrases and shorter, sharper ones. This lack of a fixed meter mirrors the wife’s shifting thoughts and the sudden impact of wartime news.

In the first part, the cadence can feel almost natural and speech-like, guiding you through her careful, anxious waiting. When the moment of news comes, the rhythm tightens and can become more abrupt, creating a jolt that mirrors the shock of the telegram. The overall effect is that the poem sounds more like real emotion than a formal metrical exercise.

Other options imply a regular pattern, but that would flatten the moment and miss Hardy’s aim to convey uncertainty and upheaval. The varied and inconsistent metre is what makes the poem feel immediate and alive to the reader.