♥ Rhythm ♥

DEFINITION:

Provides the poem’s beat by indicating the repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables.

EXAMPLE:

Iambic pentameter. Iambic – there is an unaccented syllable placed right next to an accented syllable. Pentameter – there are five iambs in a line.

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,
Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire
That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed
In the beginning how the heavens and earth
Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill
Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed
Fast by the oracle of God, I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song,
That with no middle flight intends to soar.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Like rhythm in music, rhythm in poetry creates the flow to poems. A good fluent rhythm that flows naturally will attract more attention from the reader.