Final answer:
In poetry, meter is measured through scansion, marking stressed and unstressed syllables to identify the metrical pattern. Poets use various feet to create rhythm, but can vary this pattern to enhance the poem's effect. Free verse poetry, conversely, is defined by the absence of regular meter.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Meter in Poetry
The method that poets use to measure the metrical patterns in a poem is known as scansion. To determine the meter, one must analyze the lines by marking the stressed ('/') and unstressed ('x') syllables. The combinations of these syllables form various metrical feet, such as iambic (unstressed followed by stressed), trochaic (stressed followed by unstressed), anapestic (two unstressed followed by one stressed), and dactylic (one stressed followed by two unstressed). Each complete unit of these is called a foot, and the number of feet in a line defines the length of the meter, such as iambic pentameter (five feet per line) or trochaic tetrameter (four feet per line).
While the rigid application of a single metrical pattern can make a poem monotonous, poets often vary the meter to create more interesting and dynamic rhythms. Furthermore, some poetry, such as free verse, is notable for its absence of a regular meter. The choice of meter and its execution can greatly affect the poem's rhythm, tone, and the reader's experience.
Classical poetry often employs regular meter for its rhythmic and musical quality, reminiscent of the art form's origins in song and oral recitation. Modern poets may also choose to use meter to evoke particular emotions or to reinforce thematic content, while at other times, they may deliberately break from standard metrical patterns to draw attention or create emphasis.