Anapestic tetrameter facts for kids

Anapestic tetrameter is the rhythm used in "A Visit from St. Nicholas".

Anapestic tetrameter (sometimes spelled anapaestic in British English) is a special kind of rhythm used in poems. It means that each line of the poem has four groups of sounds, called "metrical feet." Each of these groups follows a pattern: two soft, unstressed sounds followed by one strong, stressed sound.

Think of it like "da da DUM." This rhythm often makes poems sound fast and energetic.

What is Anapestic Tetrameter?

In poetry, a "meter" is like the musical beat of the words. Anapestic tetrameter is a specific kind of beat.

• An "anapest" is a sound pattern: two unstressed syllables (soft sounds) followed by one stressed syllable (a loud sound). Imagine saying "un-der-STAND" or "in the NIGHT."
• "Tetrameter" means there are four of these anapest patterns in one line of poetry.

So, a line of anapestic tetrameter has four "da da DUM" beats.

Why Poets Use This Rhythm

This rhythm is often perfect for poems that are funny or lighthearted. Many famous examples use it:

• Clement Clarke Moore's classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (the one about Santa Claus) uses this bouncy rhythm.
• Most of Dr. Seuss's beloved books and poems also use anapestic tetrameter.

When used for funny poems, the rhythm is usually very steady and regular. This steady beat helps make the poem feel cheerful and melodic. Sometimes, the very first soft sound in a line might be left out, but the rhythm still feels the same.

When It's Not Just for Fun

Even though it's great for funny poems, anapestic tetrameter isn't only for jokes!

• Lord Byron used it in his serious poem "The Destruction of Sennacherib".
• The rapper Eminem also uses this rhythm in his hit song "The Way I Am" for most of the song, except the chorus.

In more serious works, the rhythm might not be as perfectly regular. Poets might add pauses (called caesuras) or mix in other rhythms. This can break up the steady beat. For example, Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee" uses anapestic tetrameter but with some changes. This rhythm was also commonly used in the entrance songs of ancient Greek plays.

How Anapestic Tetrameter Sounds

Let's look at how an anapestic foot sounds. It's two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable:

A full line of anapestic tetrameter has four of these patterns in a row:

We can also show this rhythm using marks: 'x' for an unstressed syllable and '/' for a stressed syllable. So, a line of anapestic tetrameter looks like this:

Here are some lines from Dr. Seuss's Yertle the Turtle. The first line is a perfect example of anapestic tetrameter. The second line shows a common trick where the very first unstressed syllable is left out. This is called an iambic substitution.

"And toDAY the Great YERtle, that MARvelous HE

Is KING of the MUD. That is ALL he can SEE".

Here's how you can see the rhythm in those lines: