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Dochmiac tetrameter

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A four-unit line composed of dochmiac feet (typically short-long-long-short-long)

Detailed Definition
Dochmiac tetrameter is a rare metrical form in classical poetry composed of four dochmiac feet per line, where each dochmiac foot typically follows the pattern of short-long-short-long-short (˘ ¯ ˘ ¯ ˘), creating a highly irregular, agitated rhythm often used in Greek tragedy to convey emotional turmoil or frenzy, as seen in the choral odes of Aeschylus and Euripides.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Aeschylus’ “Agamemnon,” dochmiac tetrameter conveys tragic frenzy; In Euripides’ “Bacchae,” dochmiac meters express Dionysian ecstasy; In modern poetry, Anne Carson uses dochmiac tetrameter in “Autobiography of Red” for queer mythic intensity; In Derek Walcott’s “Omeros,” dochmiac variants evoke Caribbean ritual; In Alice Notley’s “The Descent of Alette,” subway rhythms adapt dochmiac urgency.
Additional Notes
Four-foot line using dochmiac feet. Rare metrical form creating irregular, emotional rhythm. Related to Greek dramatic meters. Difficult to sustain in English due to stress patterns.
Also Known As
agitated tetrameter distressed meter
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