Final answer:
Accented syllables in poetry help establish the meter, which brings out the rhythmical pattern and musicality of the piece. In the given line, the accented syllables are in 'sparkling,' 'tide,' and 'dashed.' Listening for natural emphasis and using symbols to mark stressed ('/') and unstressed ('x') syllables assist in this analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying accented syllables is crucial to understanding the meter of a poem. Meter provides the rhythmical pattern and contributes to the overall musical quality of poetry. When analyzing the line 'The sparkling waves by the tide were dashed,' the accented syllables can be determined by reading the line aloud and listening for the natural emphasis placed on certain syllables. Taking into account the provided examples, the line with accented syllables marked would look like 'The sparkling waves by the tide were dashed.' Each 'x' represents an unstressed syllable and each '/' a stressed one. In the line, the words 'spark,' 'tide,' and 'dashed' receive the emphasis, indicating that they contain the accented syllables.
It is important to notice devices like alliteration, assonance, and caesuras, which can affect the rhythm and mood of the poem. Marking accented syllables is a tool that helps to analyze these poetic devices more accurately and appreciate how they contribute to the poem's sound and meaning.