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In poetry, feet are segments of stressed and unstressed syllables that, when used properly, create rhythmic sounds in each line of a poem. Poetic feet are combined with meter, the number of feet per line, to create the overall line length, but it is the feet that determine the placement or pattern of syllables. There are four main types of poetic feet, as well as two supplementary forms.
For beginning poetry readers, the terms "poetic feet" and "prosody" can be confusing and intimidating, which can make it difficult to enjoy poetry written in strict meter. By understanding the basic building block of meter -- the poetic foot -- readers can better understand how to analyze and appreciate metrical poetry.
Meter refers to the organization of stressed and unstressed syllables in English verse lines. Meter is determined by listening for which syllables in a line are emphasized (or stressed) and which are not. Although not all English poetry is written in a specific meter, metrical verse has a strong history throughout English poetry. There are four basic meters in English: iambic, trochaic, anapestic and dactylic.
You've probably heard the term "poetic justice" a few times in your life, but if you're not sure exactly what it is, then it can be difficult to explain. Poetic justice in layman's terms is when good ironically defeats evil, but that doesn't explain poetic justice well enough to someone who doesn't understand the term. You can explain poetic justice best when you give an example.
A poem’s meter is the rhythmic pattern of its syllables. Much like the time signature of a song, this pattern determines the poem’s general musical shape. Strictly speaking, meter and poetry are two separate things, because not all poetry is metrical and not all metrical writing is poetry. The vast majority of significant poetry is metrical, though, so understanding meter is an important part of understanding poetry in general.
