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Pyrrhic

A pyrrhic is a metrical foot used in formal poetry. It consists of two unaccented, short syllables.^[1] It is also known as a dibrach.

Tennyson used pyrrhics and spondees quite frequently. Here are some examples:

Be near me when my light is low,

When the blood creeps and the nerves prick

And tingle; and the heart is sick,

And all the wheels of Being slow.

-from In Memoriam.

Example above include "When the" and "and the" in the second line and "-le; and" in the third.

Pyrrhics alone are not used to construct an entire poem due to the monotonous effect.^[2]

References

1. ^ Harry Rusche, A Handbook of Terms for Discussing Poetry, Emory University Department of English [1] Last accessed 20 December 2006
2. ^ "Rhythm, Meter, and Scansion Made Easy," Riverdale School, [2] Last accessed 20 December 2006