The Shifting Steps of the Epitrite Foot

The Shifting Steps of the Epitrite Foot   The Epitrite is a tetrasyllabic metrical foot used in metered poetry. In classical poetry of the Greeks and Romans the Epitrite consists of three long vowels followed by one short vowel. In English poetry it consists of three stressed vowels followed by one unstressed as shown in the Table below.   The position of the short vowel or unstressed syllable determines the particular type of epitrite foot is. So if this short vowel or unstressed syllable ( ᵕ ) shifts from fourth position to third position it becomes the Third Epitrite foot; moving from third position to second position it becomes the Second Epitrite foot, and moving from second position to first position it becomes the First Epitrite foot as shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

First Epitrite Foot

The First Epitrite is a tetrasyllabic metrical foot used in metered poetry. In classical poetry of the Greeks and Romans and in English poetry and it consists of the iamb and a spondee as shown in Table 1 above.

The position of the short vowel ( ᵕ ) or the unstressed syllable ( ᵕ ) is the deciding factor, because the short vowel symbol as in the case of quantitative meter and the unstressed symbol as is the case in qualitative meter is placed at the beginning of the foot thus giving it the name of the First Epitrite foot made up of an iamb and a spondee.

Don’t expect to find poems made up of the First Epitrite foot entirely. However, you are bound to see the First Epitrite foot tramping along with other foot types in verses of poem. The examples of this are seen in stanzas 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 of in the poem “Hurricane Preparedness Watch” written in iambic pentameter verses with nine stanzas, so take a look.

Stanza 2, Verse 4
But q, u and z are not in the set.
Stanza 3, Verse 1
Names of tropical storms on six-year list
Stanza 4, Verses 3 and 4
For now, the worst ones on the list will show
Katrina, and Rita outdid Hugo.
Stanza 5, Verse 1
These tropical cyclones cannot be stopped,
Stanza 7, Verse 1
We keep watch, wait, and offer up a prayer
Stanza 8, Verse 4
We store them with canned foods, but no fish fry.



Second Epitrite Foot

The Second Epitrite is a tetrasyllabic metrical foot used in metered poetry. In classical poetry of the Greeks and Romans and in English poetry it consists of a trochee and a spondee as shown in

Table 1 above.

Don’t expect to find poems made up of the Second Epitrite foot entirely. Examples of this are found in the following Stanzas of the modern epic poem “Tuakau Honey Jar First to Ever Rest” scanned below, so take a look.

Stanza 8, verse 1
By George! “Because it is there” one did say
Stanza 10, verses 1, 2 and 4
Britain rode high the waves but not for long
The bull in her china shop, stopped to view
She bit off more than she could ever chew.
Stanza 11, Verse 4
Those Yankees are sure the trend would not last.

Third Epitrite Foot

The Third Epitrite is a tetrasyllabic metrical foot used in metered poetry. In classical poetry of the Greeks and Romans and in English poetry it consists of a spondee and the iamb as shown in
Table 1 above.

Don’t expect to find poems made up of the Third Epitrite foot entirely. Examples of this are found in the following Stanzas of the modern epic poem “Tuakau Honey Jar First to Ever Rest” scanned below, so take a look.

Stanza 11, verses 1, and 2
The jewels on the Crown have lost their sparks
The balance of power is shifting fast
Stanza 14, verse 2
He showed that he was no regal rookie
Stanza 15, verse 2
Yea, he stammered and sometimes he would pause
Stanza 16, verse 2
His voice did flow from north, south, east and west

Fourth Epitrite Foot

The Fourth Epitrite is a tetrasyllabic metrical foot used in metered poetry. In classical poetry of the Greeks and Romans and in English poetry it consists of a spondee and a trochee as shown in
Table 1 above.

Here are some other examples of the Fourth Epitrite foot found in the ode, “A Testimony of my Christian Faith” with pentameter verses. Take a look.

Third Stanza, verses 1, 5, and 6

Joseph Smith guided by the Holy Ghost
Unearthed plates brought forth the Book of Mormon
Thus mankind's knowledge of God is broaden