Definition of Foot Literary Term The 'Foot' in Literary Terms refers to two or more syllables that together make up the smallest unit of rhythm in a poem. For example, an Iamb is a foot that has two syllables, one unstressed followed by one stressed. an Anapest has three syllables, two unstressed followed by one stressed. The number of metrical feet in a line are described as follows: - Dimeter — two feet
- Trimeter — three feet
- Tetrameter — four feet
- Pentameter — five feet
- Hexameter — six feet
- Heptameter — seven feet
- Octameter — eight feet
The meter in poetry involves the exact arrangements of syllables into repeated patterns called feet within a line. |