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Galloping hexameter

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

An anapestic hexameter line whose rhythm creates a galloping effect.

Detailed Definition
Galloping hexameter is a six-foot line dominated by anapestic or dactylic rhythms that produce a rapid, forward-driving cadence, evoking urgency, chaos, or exuberance; though not standard in classical prosody, it appears in modern verse for kinetic or dramatic effect.
Example
Example in poetry:
Longfellow’s “Evangeline” uses dactylic hexameter as galloping hexameter; Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade” adapts galloping hexameter for cavalry rhythm; Contemporary poet Derek Walcott uses galloping hexameter in “Omeros”; Galloping hexameter appears in Chapman’s Homer translations; In “The Raven,” Poe uses trochaic octameter with galloping hexameter energy.
Additional Notes
Galloping hexameter: A descriptive, non-technical term for a six-foot line (hexameter) that uses a predominance of anapestic or dactylic feet (the 'triple meters'), creating a swift, rushing, or "galloping" rhythm; see also Full anapestic hexameter.
Also Known As
Racing hexameter galloping six-foot line coursing long meter Anapestic hexameter
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