Poetic Terms Dictionary
Meter & Rhythm

Anapest

From Greek anapaistos: struck back (the reverse of the dactyl). Favoured in comic verse, marching songs, and Romantic narrative poetry.

Definition

A metrical foot of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable (u u —), producing a galloping rhythm.

Example

Byron's 'The Destruction of Sennacherib': 'The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold.'

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