Poetic Feet. If all these verses be observed carefully, it will be seen that in each group of syllables there is one accented syllable combined with one or two unaccented. Such a group of syllables is called a foot. The foot is the basis of the verse; and from the prevailing kind of foot that is found in any verse, the verse derives its name.
A foot is a group of syllables composed of one accented syllable combined with one or more unaccented. It will be noticed further that if musical notation be used, all of these forms are but variations of the one form, represented by the standard measure 3/8. They are:—
| | ^ | | eighth note | quarter note | | ; | | ^ | | | quarter note | eighth note | | ; | | ^ | | | | eighth note | eighth note | eighth note | | ; | | | ^ | | | eighth note | eighth note | eighth note | | ; and | | | | ^ | | eighth note | eighth note | eighth note | | . |
| | ^ | | eighth note | quarter note |
| ; | | ^ | | | quarter note | eighth note |
| ; | | ^ | | | | eighth note | eighth note | eighth note |
| ; | | | ^ | | | eighth note | eighth note | eighth note |
| ; and | | | | ^ | | eighth note | eighth note | eighth note |
| . |
Accordingly there are five forms of poetic feet made of this musical rhythm. Of these, four are in common use.
An Iambus is a two-syllable foot accented on the last syllable. Verse made of this kind of feet is called iambic. It is the most common form found in English poetry. Example:—
“The stag at eve had drunk his fill.”
A Trochee is a two-syllable foot accented on the first syllable. Verse made of this kind of feet is called trochaic. Example:—
“Stood the wigwam of Nokomis.”
A Dactyl is a three-syllable foot accented on the first syllable. Such verse is called dactylic. Example:—