Final answer:
The meter of a poem is the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, which creates the poem's rhythm. Common types of meter include iambic pentameter, and poets scan poetry to mark this metrical structure. Free verse poetry is characterized by the lack of a regular meter.
Step-by-step explanation:
The meter of a poem is defined by its regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in a line of poetry. This pattern is foundational to a poem's rhythm. Different types of meter are used by poets to produce a certain effect or to contribute to the overall meaning and sound of a poem. An example of a common meter is iambic pentameter, which consists of five feet of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. To identify a poem's meter, one can scan lines of poetry, marking the stressed syllables with a "/" and unstressed syllables with an "x." The marked units of syllables are known as feet. While the use of meter dates back to ancient poetry where rhythm was an essential component for recitation and musical accompaniment, modern poets may choose to write in free verse, which is noted for the absence of regular meter.