Understanding Spondee in Poetry: A Guide to the Metrical Foot

Spondee is a metrical foot used in poetry, consisting of two syllables that are equally stressed. It is the opposite of iamb, where the first syllable is unstressed and the second is stressed. Spondee is often used to create a sense of grandeur or majesty, as it emphasizes both syllables equally, giving a more balanced and stately feel to the verse.

Here's an example of spondee in a poem:

"The lion and the lamb shall feed together" (from "And did those feet in ancient time" by William Blake)

In this line, "lion" and "lamb" are both stressed equally, creating a spondee foot. The use of spondee in this line adds to the sense of unity and equality between the two animals, emphasizing the idea that they can coexist peacefully.