Final answer:
An anapest is a metrical foot in poetry that consists of two unaccented syllables followed by an accented one, creating a 'rising' rhythm commonly used to add a playful or quickened pace to the verse.
Step-by-step explanation:
A metrical foot having one accented or long syllable followed by two unaccented or short syllables is known as an anapest (x x /). This creates a rhythmic pattern in poetry where the emphasis is placed on the third syllable, as in the word unimpressed. Poetic meter is the regular pattern of stressed (/) and unstressed (x) syllables in a line of poetry, and different metrical feet are combined to form the meter of a poem.
The anapest is a three-syllable foot with the stress pattern of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. It’s important to note that while poems may begin with a particular metrical pattern, poets often vary the rhythm to create more interesting and dynamic verse, just as Shakespeare did in his plays. Meter can help convey the mood or tone of the poem, with the anapest generally being associated with a light, swift, or playful rhythm.