What is rhythm and meter?

Traditional forms of verse use established rhythmic patterns called meters (meter means “measure” in Greek), and that's what meters are — premeasured patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables. Much of English poetry is written in lines that string together one or more feet (individual rhythmical units). read more

Rhythm is a natural thing. It’s in everything you say and write, even if you don’t intend for it to be. Traditional forms of verse use established rhythmic patterns called meters (meter means “measure” in Greek), and that’s what meters are — premeasured patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables. read more

Rhythm is a broad, generic term referring to the way music behaves in time. It can also be specific, a synonym for meter; it’s one of those words that gets used in many different ways. Meter is the specific rhythmic pattern employed in a passage of music. Time signature is the symbolic notation used to indicate the meter. read more

Rhythm and Meter These are similar but not identical concepts. Rhythm refers to the overall tempo, or pace, at which the poem unfolds, while meter refers to the measured beat established by patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables. read more