trochee
Other forms: trochees
In poetry, a rhythmic unit of two syllables in which the first syllable is stressed is known as a trochee. The song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is composed of trochees.
The word trochee goes back to the Greek phrase trokhaios pous, "a running foot," and this sense of motion and forward momentum translates to its literary meaning. A poem's meter — the number and type of metrical feet used in each line — determines its shape and rhythm. Since ancient times, writing that uses trochees has been thought of as more energetic and spirited than its opposite, iambic rhythm, although iambs are more common in English.
-
a metrical unit with stressed-unstressed syllablestype of:foot, metrical foot, metrical unit(prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing trochee
One of the stumbling blocks when trying to study poetry is that it seems like a different world. Familiar things, like words, are put to unfamiliar use, and there is an entire descriptive vocabulary that is completely foreign and quite often puzzling. This list seeks to explain the words used to describe poetry through examples from famous poems. Nassim Nicholas Taleb said, "If you want to annoy a poet, explain his poetry," but we are willing to take that risk to make the world of literary analysis a little clearer and further illuminate the mystery of poetry.
You'll understand rhyme's reason when you practice this list of words related the structure of poetry. To learn even more about poetry, explore our lists on Genre and Literary Devices.
If you want to be well-versed in poetry, review this vocabulary list. Learn about parts of a poem, genres of poetry, literary devices, rhyme and meter, and more. This list is truly poetry in motion!