Anapestic meter is defined as which pattern?

Anapestic meter is defined as which pattern?

• A. Unstressed, unstressed, stressed
• B. Unstressed, stressed, unstressed
• C. Stressed, unstressed, unstressed
• D. Stressed, stressed, unstressed

Answer: (A)

Meter in poetry is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that shapes rhythm. Anapestic meter builds each foot from two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one, so the repeating unit is unstressed, unstressed, stressed. When you hear or mark a line in anapestic rhythm, the emphasis lands on the last syllable of each three-syllable group, giving a da-da-DUM feel. A simple example is in-ter-vene, where the emphasis falls on vene; another is un-der-stand. This two-light, one-heavy pattern gives the characteristic quick, flowing rhythm of anapest. The other patterns place the stresses in different orders, so they don’t define anapestic meter.

Meter in poetry is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that shapes rhythm. Anapestic meter builds each foot from two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one, so the repeating unit is unstressed, unstressed, stressed. When you hear or mark a line in anapestic rhythm, the emphasis lands on the last syllable of each three-syllable group, giving a da-da-DUM feel. A simple example is in-ter-vene, where the emphasis falls on vene; another is un-der-stand. This two-light, one-heavy pattern gives the characteristic quick, flowing rhythm of anapest. The other patterns place the stresses in different orders, so they don’t define anapestic meter.