Also the pattern of
stressed and
unstressed syllables in
poetry.
Each line usually contains a set number of stressed and unstressed syllables arranged in regular intervals so as to create symmetry in the lines.
The system of stresses results from the fact that when two or three syllables are placed together, one syllable receives a stronger accent than the other.
e.g., re-ceive
In meter, the lines are divided into feet consisting of a stressed syllable and usually one or two unaccented syllables.
Names of basic feet Examples
-------------------- ---------
iambic (most common) de-light, re-ceive
trochaic ga-ther, heartless
anapestic in-ter-rupt, di-sap-pear
dactylic hap-pi-ness, sen-ti-ment
spondaic heart-break, child-hood
A poet measures his lines into a pattern by using a specified number of
feet, with one type of foot
predominating. The following terms are used to indicate the number of feet to a line.
monometer (one)
dimeter (two)
trimeter (three)
tetrameter (four)
pentameter (five)
hexameter (six)
heptameter (seven)
octometer (eight)
From melo's lecture notes.