1. Write a line imitating the meter of the example below (trochaic tetrameter with incomplete final foot). "Mary had a little lamb"

2. Write a line imitating the meter of the example (iambic tetrameter). "I think that I shall never see"

3. Write a line imitating the meter of the example (anapestic tetrameter). "And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow"

1. When each line has four trochees or four feet, it is caled Trochaic tetrameter. A trochee/foot is a stressed syllable which is followed by an unstressed syllable. The so-called 'incomplete final foot' means that the last unstressed syllable is missing from the line. There are many examples of trochaic tetrameter with incomplete final feet. One of which can be seen in Shakespeare ... for example, Midsummer Night's Dream: "Puck's speech including the lines, "Night and silence.--Who is here? / Weeds of Athens he doth wear:")

2. Iambic tetrameter means each of the line has four iambs, an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.

Example: "A gown made of the finest wool / Which from our pretty lambs we pull", from 'The Passionate Shepherd to his Love' by Marlowe.

3. If there are four anapests per line, it describes Anapestic tetrameter. An anapest is two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable.

Example.

So "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house / not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."