Poetry Terms

Poetry TermsmeterA pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetryThe symbol is used for stressed syllablesThe symbol is used for unstressed syllablesfootA metrical unit of poetryAlways contains at least one stressed syllable and usually one or more unstressed syllablesA common type of foot is the iambIambIamb two syllables, unstressed followed by a stressed () protect

Ta Tum (like a heartbeat)

Types of Metrical FeetTrochee stressed unstressed, two syllablesSpondee stressed stressed, two syllablesAnapest unstressed unstressed stressed, three syllablesDactyl stressed unstressed unstressed, three syllablesPyrrhic unstressed unstressed two syllables

Number of Feet per lineMonometer one footDimeter two feetTrimeter three feetTetrameter four feetPentameter five feetHexameter six feetHeptameter seven feetOctometer eight feetIambic TetrameterA line of poetry that contains four iambic feet (8 syllables, unstressed followed by a stressed) l l l Ta tum l ta tum l ta tum l ta tum

In silent night when rest I took

For sorrow neer I did not look

Iambic PentameterA line of poetry that contains five iambic feet (10 syllables, unstressed followed by a stressed) l l l l Ta tum l ta tum l ta tum l ta tum l ta tum

If ever two were one then surely we

If ever man were loved by wife then thee