Here's a breakdown:
* Meter: A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
* Stress: Emphasis given to a syllable in a word.
* Syllable: A unit of pronunciation consisting of a single vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants.
Common Meters in English Poetry
* Iambic Pentameter: Five pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables per line (e.g., "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?").
* Trochaic Tetrameter: Four pairs of stressed/unstressed syllables per line (e.g., "Double, double toil and trouble").
* Anapestic Trimeter: Three pairs of unstressed/unstressed/stressed syllables per line (e.g., "The _wild_ and _free_ _birds_ _sing_ _on_ _high_").
Examples:
* Iambic Pentameter: "But soft, what light through yonder window **breaks?" (Shakespeare, *Romeo and Juliet*)
* Trochaic Tetrameter: "Tyger, Tyger, burning bright" (William Blake, "The Tyger")
* Anapestic Trimeter: "The _min_ _strels_ _play_ _for_ _thee_ _and_ _me_." (Robert Bridges, "The Minstrels")
Why is Meter Important?
* Rhythm: Creates a distinct rhythm and musicality.
* Emphasis: Highlights certain words and phrases.
* Structure: Provides a framework for the poem.
* Emotional Impact: Can evoke different emotions, from joy to sadness.
While meter is a significant aspect of traditional poetry, modern poets often use free verse, which does not adhere to a strict metrical pattern.