Final answer:
The statement is true as simple meter divides each beat into two and compound meters divide each beat into three. This concept applies to both music and the rhythm of poetry, where the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables determines the meter. Examples include iamb, trochee, spondee, anapest, and dactyl.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that simple meter divides each beat into two, while compound meters divide each beat into three is true. In poetry, this principle is mirrored in the rhythm and meter of lines. For example, the iamb and trochee are both two-syllable feet, with the iamb featuring a rising rhythm and the trochee a falling rhythm. Similarly, a spondee has two equally stressed beats. In comparison, the three-syllable feet such as the anapest (x x /) and the dactyl (/ x x) are considered triple rhythms, with the anapest being rising and the dactyl falling.
The importance of rhythmical patterns, or meter, is profound from a young age as we internalize meters like those in nursery rhymes, and it is determined by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables. Rhythm not only affects poetry but is also integral to music, governing how we perceive the flow of the piece.