rhythm related terms

meter

pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

meterical foot

two or more syllables that make up smallest unit of rhythm in a poem

scansion

The act of analyzing a poem’s metrical pattern

iambic

A metrical foot of two syllables, one unstressed followed by one stressed

trochaic

A metrical foot of two syllables, one stressed followed by one unstressed

Iambic pentameter

meter in poetry, in which there are five iambs to a line

• tri- 3

• tetra/penta- 5

• hexa- 6

free verse

no distinct pattern of rhyme or meter

blank verse

Poetry that is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

stanza

Two or more lines of poetry that form one of the divisions of a poem

usually of the same length and follow the same pattern of meter

rhyme

occurrence of the same or similar sounds at the end of two or more words, usually shown by using a different letter for each final sound

internal rhyme

Rhyme that occurs within one line of poetry

half rhyme (slant rhyme)

Approximate rhyme

enjambement

line of poetry that rolls into the next line without punctuation that would indicate a pause

caesura

A natural pause or break in a line of poetry

usually near the middle of the line

euphony

sound of words is harmonious to the ear

cacophony

sound of words is disharmonious or jarring to the ear, sound more harsh