In poetic metre, a trochee (/ˈtroʊkiː/) is a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one, in qualitative meter, as found in English, and in modern linguistics; or in quantitative meter, as found in Latin and Ancient Greek, a heavy syllable followed by a light one (also described as a long syllable followed by a short one).[1] In this respect, a trochee is the reverse of an iamb. Thus the Latin word íbī "there", because of its short-long rhythm, in Latin metrical studies is considered to be an iamb, but since it is stressed on the first syllable, in modern linguistics it is considered to be a trochee.
The adjective form is trochaic. The English word trochee is itself trochaic since it is composed of the stressed syllable /ˈtroʊ/ followed by the unstressed syllable /kiː/.
Another name formerly used for a trochee was a choree (/ˈkɔːriː/), or choreus.
Trochee comes from Frenchtrochée, adapted from Latintrochaeus, originally from the Greekτροχός (trokhós), 'wheel',[2] from the phrase τροχαῖος πούς (trokhaîos poús), literally 'running foot';[3] it is connected with the word τρέχωtrékhō, 'I run'. The less-often used word choree comes from χορός, khorós, 'dance'; both convey the "rolling" rhythm of this metrical foot. The phrase was adapted into English in the late 16th century.
There was a well-established ancient tradition that trochaic rhythm is faster than iambic.[4] When used in drama it is often associated with lively situations. One ancient commentator notes that it was named from the metaphor of people running (ἐκ μεταφορᾶς τῶν τρεχόντων) and the Roman metrician Marius Victorinus notes that it was named from its running and speed (dictus a cursu et celeritate).[4]
Perhaps owing to its simplicity, though, trochaic meter is fairly common in nursery rhymes:
Peter, Peter pumpkin-eater
Had a wife and couldn't keep her.
Trochaic verse is also well known in Latin poetry, especially of the medieval period. Since the stress never falls on the final syllable in Medieval Latin, the language is ideal for trochaic verse. The dies irae of the Requiem mass is an example:
Dies irae, dies illa
Solvet saeclum in favilla
Teste David cum Sibylla.
The Finnish national epic Kalevala, like much old Finnish poetry, is written in a variation of trochaic tetrameter.
Trochaic metre is popular in Polish and Czech literatures.[6] Vitězslav Nezval's poem Edison is written in trochaic hexameter.[7]
In Greek and Latin, the syllabic structure deals with long and short syllables, rather than accented and unaccented. Trochaic meter was rarely used by the Latin poets in the classical period, except in certain passages of the tragedies and the comedies.[8] The two main metres used in comedy were the trochaic septenarius and trochaic octonarius.
^Trochee, Etymology Online (retrieved 23 July 2015)
^ abA.M. Devine, Laurence Stephens, The Prosody of Greek Speech, p. 116.
^The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. London: Abbey Library/Cresta House, 1977.
^Josef Brukner, Jiří Filip, Poetický slovník, Mladá fronta, Praha 1997, p. 339-340 (in Czech).
^Wiktor J. Darasz, Trochej, Język Polski, 1-2/2001, p. 51 (in Polish).
^Gustavus Fischer, "Prosody", Etymology and an introduction to syntax (Latin Grammar, Volume 1), J. W. Schermerhorn (1876) p. 395.
Look up trochee in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
April 09, 2024
trochee, poetic, metre, trochee, metrical, foot, consisting, stressed, syllable, followed, unstressed, qualitative, meter, found, english, modern, linguistics, quantitative, meter, found, latin, ancient, greek, heavy, syllable, followed, light, also, described. In poetic metre a trochee ˈ t r oʊ k iː is a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one in qualitative meter as found in English and in modern linguistics or in quantitative meter as found in Latin and Ancient Greek a heavy syllable followed by a light one also described as a long syllable followed by a short one 1 In this respect a trochee is the reverse of an iamb Thus the Latin word ibi there because of its short long rhythm in Latin metrical studies is considered to be an iamb but since it is stressed on the first syllable in modern linguistics it is considered to be a trochee Metrical feet and accentsDisyllables pyrrhic dibrach iamb trochee choree spondeeTrisyllables tribrach dactyl amphibrach anapaest antidactylus bacchius antibacchius cretic amphimacer molossusSee main article for tetrasyllables vteTrochaic tetrameter in MacbethThe adjective form is trochaic The English word trochee is itself trochaic since it is composed of the stressed syllable ˈ t r oʊ followed by the unstressed syllable k iː Another name formerly used for a trochee was a choree ˈ k ɔːr iː or choreus Contents 1 Etymology 2 Examples 2 1 Latin 3 See also 4 ReferencesEtymology editTrochee comes from French trochee adapted from Latin trochaeus originally from the Greek troxos trokhos wheel 2 from the phrase troxaῖos poys trokhaios pous literally running foot 3 it is connected with the word trexw trekhō I run The less often used word choree comes from xoros khoros dance both convey the rolling rhythm of this metrical foot The phrase was adapted into English in the late 16th century There was a well established ancient tradition that trochaic rhythm is faster than iambic 4 When used in drama it is often associated with lively situations One ancient commentator notes that it was named from the metaphor of people running ἐk metaforᾶs tῶn trexontwn and the Roman metrician Marius Victorinus notes that it was named from its running and speed dictus a cursu et celeritate 4 Examples editTrochaic meter is sometimes seen among the works of William Shakespeare Double double toil and trouble Fire burn and cauldron bubble 5 Perhaps owing to its simplicity though trochaic meter is fairly common in nursery rhymes Peter Peter pumpkin eater Had a wife and couldn t keep her Trochaic verse is also well known in Latin poetry especially of the medieval period Since the stress never falls on the final syllable in Medieval Latin the language is ideal for trochaic verse The dies irae of the Requiem mass is an example Dies irae dies illa Solvet saeclum in favilla Teste David cum Sibylla The Finnish national epic Kalevala like much old Finnish poetry is written in a variation of trochaic tetrameter Trochaic metre is popular in Polish and Czech literatures 6 Vitezslav Nezval s poem Edison is written in trochaic hexameter 7 Latin edit Further information Metres of Roman comedy In Greek and Latin the syllabic structure deals with long and short syllables rather than accented and unaccented Trochaic meter was rarely used by the Latin poets in the classical period except in certain passages of the tragedies and the comedies 8 The two main metres used in comedy were the trochaic septenarius and trochaic octonarius See also editMonometer Prosody Latin Substitution poetry Trochaic substitution Prosody Greek Trochaic septenariusReferences edit Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Trochaic Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 27 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 293 Etymology of the Latin word trochee usurped MyEtymology retrieved 23 July 2015 Trochee Etymology Online retrieved 23 July 2015 a b A M Devine Laurence Stephens The Prosody of Greek Speech p 116 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare London Abbey Library Cresta House 1977 Josef Brukner Jiri Filip Poeticky slovnik Mlada fronta Praha 1997 p 339 340 in Czech Wiktor J Darasz Trochej Jezyk Polski 1 2 2001 p 51 in Polish Gustavus Fischer Prosody Etymology and an introduction to syntax Latin Grammar Volume 1 J W Schermerhorn 1876 p 395 nbsp Look up trochee in Wiktionary the free dictionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trochee amp oldid 1197848566, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
