Metre (poetry)

Metre is a term used in the scansion of poetry, usually indicated by the kind of feet and the number of them: for instance, "iambic pentameter", "dactylic tetrameter", etc.

Greek and Latin Poetry

The metrical "feet" in the classical languages were based on the length of time taken to pronounce each syllable, which were categorized as either "long" syllables or "short" syllables. The foot is often compared to a musical measure and the long and short syllables to whole notes and half notes.

French Poetry

see

Alexandrine

Dactylic hexameter

Elegiac couplet

Heroic couplet

Iambic pentameter