Which meter's pattern is described as weak-strong, that is, unstressed followed by stressed syllable?

Which meter's pattern is described as weak-strong, that is, unstressed followed by stressed syllable?

• A. Iambic
• B. Trochaic
• C. Anapestic
• D. Dactylic

Answer: (A)

This item tests how you recognize a meter pattern built from unstressed and stressed syllables. The described weak-strong pattern—an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one—creates a rising rhythm often described as da-DUM. That rising two-syllable unit is called an iamb. A line that uses five of these iambic feet in succession is known as iambic pentameter, which is a very common rhythm in English poetry and in Shakespeare’s verse, because it mirrors the natural flow of spoken English with a steady, gentle beat. To see why this fits, think of a simple two-syllable word like today, where the emphasis naturally falls on the second syllable: to-DAY. That rising feel is exactly what an iamb supplies. In contrast, other meters place stress differently: trochaic starts with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one (DA-dum); anapestic has two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one (uu-DUM); and dactylic begins with a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed (DUM-uu). The pattern described here aligns with the iambic type.

This item tests how you recognize a meter pattern built from unstressed and stressed syllables. The described weak-strong pattern—an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one—creates a rising rhythm often described as da-DUM. That rising two-syllable unit is called an iamb. A line that uses five of these iambic feet in succession is known as iambic pentameter, which is a very common rhythm in English poetry and in Shakespeare’s verse, because it mirrors the natural flow of spoken English with a steady, gentle beat.

To see why this fits, think of a simple two-syllable word like today, where the emphasis naturally falls on the second syllable: to-DAY. That rising feel is exactly what an iamb supplies. In contrast, other meters place stress differently: trochaic starts with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one (DA-dum); anapestic has two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one (uu-DUM); and dactylic begins with a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed (DUM-uu). The pattern described here aligns with the iambic type.