Final answer:
Sappho did not write in a very strict meter; instead, she is known for the Sapphic stanza, which is less strict than heroic verse. Her poetry often bent conventional rules to suit her lyrical style, expressing emotion and personal feelings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Did Sappho write in a very strict meter? The answer to this question is False. Sappho, the renowned Archaic period poet from the Greek island of Lesbos, was known for her lyrical poetry which was often accompanied by the music of the lyre. While there were common metrical patterns used in Ancient Greek poetry, such as the iambic and the trochaic meter, Sappho was particularly famous for the Sapphic stanza, a form named after her. This meter is less strict than heroic verse, allowing for greater emotional expression and variation in rhythm, aligning with the characteristics of her poetry that celebrated love and personal feelings.
It is also important to note that meter in ancient Greek poetry was tied to musical accompaniment and dance, hence the various meters catered to different styles of performance. It was not until later periods that the iambic meter became the preferred form for the more colloquial dialogue of theater. Nonetheless, even with these conventions, Sappho's poetry often bent the rules to suit her own lyrical style, proving that she did not always adhere to a very strict meter.