What best defines metrical meter in poetry?

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Meter in poetry is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates the verse’s rhythm. This arrangement, whether it’s an iamb, trochee, or another metrical foot, establishes a regular beat and flow when lines are read aloud, shaping the poem’s pace and musical feel. The other options miss this rhythm-focused idea: a poem’s theme is about meaning, biographical details relate to the author, and length or stanza count describes form and scope rather than how the line is spoken. So, the best definition is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.