Meter & Rhythm
Wrenched Accent
A common feature of popular song and balladry, where melodic or metrical demands override natural speech rhythm. Criticised in literary verse; sometimes used deliberately for archaic effect.
Definition
The distortion of natural word stress to fit the prevailing metrical pattern — especially common in folk ballads.
Example
In a ballad, 'mournful' may be stressed 'mournFUL' to maintain the iambic beat of the line.