What is an anapest?
An anapest is a metrical foot consisting of two short or unstressed syllables followed by a long or stressed syllable.
Anapest: The Bouncy Metrical Foot You Need to Know
An anapest is a metrical foot in poetry that consists of two short or unstressed syllables followed by a long or stressed syllable. It's often described as bouncy, jaunty, or upbeat, and it can create a lively, energetic feeling in your writing. You can identify anapests by scanning the poem for patterns of unstressed-unstressed-stressed syllables, like in this line from 'The Night Before Christmas':
'Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas, when ALL through the HOUSE
Here, the syllables in bold are the anapestic ones. Anapests are especially common in lighthearted or humorous poetry, but they can be used in any genre to create a sense of movement and momentum. If you're writing a poem or song and want to give it a playful, buoyant tone, try experimenting with anapests.
Here are two examples of anapests that really bounce off the page:
Dr. Seuss was a master of anapestic meter, and he used it to create his signature wacky, playful style. In The Cat in the Hat, nearly every line contains multiple anapestic feet, like this one:
And Sally and I did not know what to say.
Even the most serious of poets can utilize anapests to create a sense of urgency or speed. In The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe uses anapests sparingly, but effectively, to convey the agitation of the narrator:
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain