ABC OF METER IN POETRY
METER IN POETRY A poem can contain many elements to give it structure. Rhyme is perhaps the most common of these elements: countless poetic works, from limericks to epic poems to pop lyrics, contain rhymes. But equally important is meter, which imposes specific length and emphasis on a given line of poetry. Meter is the basic rhythmic structure of a line within a work of poetry. Meter consists of two components: The number of syllables A pattern of emphasis on those syllables A line of poetry can be broken into “feet,” which are individual units within a line of poetry. A foot of poetry has a specific number of syllables and a specific pattern of emphasis. Common Types of Feet in Poetry In English poetry, the most common types of metrical feet are two syllables and three syllables long. They’re characterized by their particular combination of stressed syllables and unstressed syllables. They include: Trochee . Pronounced DUH-duh , as in “ladder.” Iamb . Pronounce...