What is Rhythm?

Rhythm is the pattern of stresses within a line of verse. All spoken word has a rhythm formed by stressed and unstressed syllables. When you write words in a sentence you will notice patterns forming.

In poetry pre measured patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables are called meters.

Stressed syllables - long sounding
Unstressed syllables - short sounding

Meters are the pattern of feet within a sentence
Feet are individual units of rhythm made up of patterns of syllables. A sentence is made up of one or more feet.

There are 5 Rhythms in poetry:

To form a line of verse a poet can use repetitions of feet:

Monometer - 1 foot:
Dimeter - 2 feet:
Trimeter - 3 feet:
Tetrameter - 4 feet:
Pentameter - 5 feet:
Hexameter - 6 feet:

Rhythm is a natural effect within poetry. The meter of a sentence and which feet used to make that sentence are what give the poem its effect and flow.

Why don't you try writing a poem using metaphors and enter it into one of our poetry competitions.

For information on poetry terms other than a metaphor visit our poetry glossary – poetry terms.