Poetry Terms

rhythm A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry ◦ The symbol ˊ is used for stressed syllables ◦ The symbol ˘ is used for unstressed syllables

foot A metrical unit of poetry

Types of feet Iambic – two syllables, unstressed followed by a stressed (˘ ˊ) – protect Ta Tum (like a heartbeat)

Types of feet Trochee – stressed unstressed, two syllables Spondee – stressed stressed, two syllables Anapest – unstressed unstressed stressed, three syllables Dactyl – stressed unstressed unstressed, three syllables Pyrrhic – unstressed unstressed two syllables

Types of meter Monometer – one foot Dimeter – two feet Trimeter – three feet Tetrameter – four feet Pentameter – five feet Hexameter – six feet Heptameter – seven feet Octometer – eight feet

Iambic Tetrameter A line of poetry that contains four iambic feet (8 syllables, unstressed followed by a stressed) ˘ ˊ l ˘ˊ l ˘ˊ l ˘ˊ 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 Pentameter A line of poetry that contains five iambic feet (10 syllables, unstressed followed by a stressed) ˘ ˊ l ˘ˊ l ˘ˊ l ˘ˊ l ˘ˊ 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