What term describes the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry?

The term that describes the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry is indeed meter. Meter is fundamental to the rhythm of a poem. It involves the arrangement of these syllables into specific patterns, which can create a particular feel or pace in the reading. For instance, an iambic meter features alternating unstressed and stressed syllables, giving a natural flow to the verse. Understanding meter helps readers and writers appreciate the musical quality of poetry, and it influences how the poem conveys emotion and meaning.

Rhyme, while related to the sound of poetry, specifically refers to the repetition of similar sounding words, typically at the end of lines. Verse entails the lines themselves in a poem or the overall structure of poetry but does not specifically address the syllabic pattern. A stanza refers to a grouped set of lines in a poem, functioning more like a paragraph in prose than focusing on the rhythmic qualities. Each of these terms relates to poetry but serves a different function, making meter the most accurate choice for describing the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.