A metrical foot refers to a unit of rhythm in poetry, consisting of a specific combination of stressed (´) and unstressed (˘) syllables. Trochaic (trochee): A stressed syllable (´) followed by an unstressed syllable (˘). Example: "Tyger, Tyger, burning bright" (The Tyger by William Blake)

Iambic (iamb) follows the opposite pattern: unstressed (˘) followed by stressed (´) (e.g., "To be or not to be"). Spondaic (spondee) consists of two stressed syllables (´ ´) (e.g., heartbreak, sunshine). Dactylic (dactyl) follows the pattern stressed (´) followed by two unstressed (˘ ˘) (e.g., "merrily, merrily").