If a line’s meter is formed by four iambs per line, what is it called?

If a line’s meter is formed by four iambs per line, what is it called?

• A. Iambic Pentameter
• B. Iambic Tetrameter
• C. Trochaic Tetrameter
• D. Anapestic Tetrameter

Answer: (B)

Meter in poetry hinges on feet. An iamb is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, and four iambic feet in a line give iambic tetrameter. The term tetrameter signals four feet (tetra = four), so a line built from four da-DUM units has eight syllables with alternating stresses. This contrasts with iambic pentameter (five iambic feet) and with other patterns like trochaic tetrameter (four feet of stressed-unstressed) or anapestic tetrameter (four feet of unstressed-unstressed-stressed). Since the line has four iambs, the proper label is iambic tetrameter.

Meter in poetry hinges on feet. An iamb is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, and four iambic feet in a line give iambic tetrameter. The term tetrameter signals four feet (tetra = four), so a line built from four da-DUM units has eight syllables with alternating stresses. This contrasts with iambic pentameter (five iambic feet) and with other patterns like trochaic tetrameter (four feet of stressed-unstressed) or anapestic tetrameter (four feet of unstressed-unstressed-stressed). Since the line has four iambs, the proper label is iambic tetrameter.