What are Metrical Feet?
Meter means “measurement,” and in poetry, meter refers to the repeating pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in the lines of a poem. The unit of measurement in poetry is called a metrical foot. A metrical foot is a set of syllables, usually two or three, with only one receiving a strong stress. Scanning is the name for the technique of determining the metrical foot and meter of a poem. When scanning poetry, we use an ictus (‘) to mark a strong stress, and a breve (˘) to mark weaker stress. Another way to describe a metrical foot is to say that each metrical foot is made up of a particular pattern of strong and weak stresses.
