Stress
Stress is the emphasis that falls on certain syllables. It gives poetry its feet, metre and rhythm. Stress is the longer, accented sound.
After a day of stress, “Aaahhh” is the long sound people make. When you’re stressed, accidents (accent) can happen.
When you’re stressed, you need someone to lean on – like this leaning shape / which is used to indicate a stressed syllable (see examples below).
Stress: Longer (longer sound)
Louder
cLearer
Large facial movements when spoken
Leaning shape ( / )
There are words that consist of two stressed syllables in a row.
NOTE:
A word like this is called spondaic (see the page Types of feet).
Examples
Commands are often two stressed syllables in a row because they are longer, louder, clearer and require large facial movements when spoken:
