Definition
Metre (also spelled meter in American English) is the structured pattern of rhythmical units, known as feet, that underlies a line of poetry. It organizes sequences of stressed and unstressed syllables—or, in classical languages, patterns of long and short syllables—into recurring arrangements that give a poem its formal rhythmic framework.
Overview
In English and many other stress‑based languages, metre is typically described by the arrangement of iambs (unstressed‑stressed), trochees (stressed‑unstressed), anapests (unstressed‑unstressed‑stressed), dactyls (stressed‑unstressed‑unstressed), and spondees (stressed‑stressed). The number of feet per line yields specific metrical names, such as iambic pentameter (five iambic feet) or trochaic tetrameter (four trochaic feet). Classical Greek and Latin poetry, by contrast, rely on quantitative metre, where the length of syllables (long vs. short) determines the foot.
Metre serves several functions: it creates musicality, reinforces meaning through accentual patterns, aids memorization, and situates a poem within a literary tradition. Poets may adhere strictly to a metrical scheme, introduce variations (e.g., substitutions, caesuras, or catalectic lines), or employ free verse, which deliberately eschews regular metrical patterning.
Etymology/Origin
The term derives from the Greek word metron (μέτρον), meaning “measure.” It entered Latin as metrum and was adopted into Middle French as mètre before entering English in the late 16th century.
Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Foot | The basic metrical unit, consisting of a specific sequence of syllable types (e.g., iamb, trochee). |
| Line length | Determined by the number of feet per line; common lengths include dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, and heptameter. |
| Stress pattern | In stress‑based metres, patterns of strong (´) and weak (˘) syllables define the foot; e.g., iambic (˘´). |
| Quantitative pattern | In classical metre, the distinction is between long (—) and short (˘) syllables; e.g., dactylic hexameter (— ˘ ˘ — ˘ ˘ — ˘ ˘ — ˘ ˘ —). |
| Variations | Poets may insert substitutions (e.g., a trochee in place of an iamb), employ elision, or truncate a foot (catalexis). |
| Rhyme interaction | While metre governs rhythm, rhyme governs end sounds; the two often interact but are analytically separate. |
| Scansion | The process of marking a poem’s metrical pattern, traditionally using symbols such as / for stressed (or long) and × for unstressed (or short). |
| Historical usage | Shakespeare famously used iambic pentameter; Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey employ dactylic hexameter; Old English poetry, such as Beowulf, utilizes alliterative verse based on stress rather than syllable count. |
Related Topics
- Foot (poetry) – The constituent unit of metre.
- Scansion – The analytical technique for identifying a poem’s metrical pattern.
- Rhythm (poetry) – The broader temporal flow created by metre, stress, and pauses.
- Stanza – A grouped set of lines often sharing a common metrical scheme.
- Free verse – Poetry that intentionally avoids regular metre.
- Prosody – The study of verse form, including metre, rhythm, and intonation.
- Alliteration – A prominent feature in Old English and other stress‑based poetic traditions, sometimes paired with metrical patterns.
- Verse (poetry) – A broader term encompassing lines of poetry, of which metre is a core structural element.