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Definition of Foot Literary Term
The 'Foot'
in Literary Terms refers to two or more syllables
that together make up the smallest unit of rhythm in
a poem. For example, an
Iamb is a
foot that has two syllables, one unstressed followed
by one stressed. an
Anapest
has three syllables, two unstressed followed by one
stressed.
The
number of metrical feet in a line are described as
follows:
-
Dimeter — two feet
-
Trimeter — three feet
-
Tetrameter — four feet
-
Pentameter — five feet
-
Hexameter — six feet
-
Heptameter — seven feet
-
Octameter — eight feet
The
meter in poetry involves the exact arrangements of
syllables into repeated patterns called feet within
a line.
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