Which metrical foot is described as one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables?

Which metrical foot is described as one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables?

• A. Iamb
• B. Trochee
• C. Anapest
• D. Dactyl

Answer: (D)

A metrical foot is a unit of rhythm built from a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. One stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables describes a dactyl. In a line that uses this foot, you get a strong beat on the first syllable and two lighter beats after it, like in words such as carefully or merrily, where the stress lands on the first syllable and the next two are comparatively lighter. By comparison, an iamb has an unstressed first syllable followed by a stressed one (unstressed–stressed), a trochee has a stressed first syllable followed by an unstressed one (stressed–unstressed), and an anapest has two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one (unstressed–unstressed–stressed). So the pattern described is the dactyl.

A metrical foot is a unit of rhythm built from a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. One stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables describes a dactyl. In a line that uses this foot, you get a strong beat on the first syllable and two lighter beats after it, like in words such as carefully or merrily, where the stress lands on the first syllable and the next two are comparatively lighter. By comparison, an iamb has an unstressed first syllable followed by a stressed one (unstressed–stressed), a trochee has a stressed first syllable followed by an unstressed one (stressed–unstressed), and an anapest has two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one (unstressed–unstressed–stressed). So the pattern described is the dactyl.