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A '''trochee''' is a metrical unit of a [[poetic meter|poetic foot]] in [[poetry]] which is made up of a stressed (accented) syllable followed by an unstressed (unaccented) syllable<ref>"trochee, n.". OED Online. June 2011. Oxford University Press. 28 August 2011</ref>. Lines of verse that are predominantly made up of trochees are referred to as trochaic.  For instance, a line consisting of five sets of trochees would be considered to be in trochaic pentameter.  The word trochee itself is trochaic.

A '''trochee''' is a metrical unit of a [[poetic meter|poetic foot]] in [[poetry]] which is made up of a stressed (accented) syllable followed by an unstressed (unaccented) syllable.<ref>"trochee, n.". OED Online. June 2011. Oxford University Press. 28 August 2011</ref>  Lines of verse that are predominantly made up of trochees are referred to as trochaic.  For instance, a line consisting of five sets of trochees would be considered to be in trochaic pentameter.  The word trochee itself is trochaic.

One of the most famous literary works that is predominately in trochaic meter is [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]'s ''The Song of Hiawatha''.  Another example is from a well known children's rhyme:

One of the most famous literary works that is predominately in trochaic meter is [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]'s ''The Song of Hiawatha''.  Another example is from a well known children's rhyme:

Catch(/) a(~) tiger(/~) by(/) the(~) toe(/)<ref>http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/meter.shtml</ref>

Catch(/) a(~) tiger(/~) by(/) the(~) toe(/)<ref>http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/meter.shtml</ref>

Often the use of trochaic meter is an indication of a switch in tone or voice.  Lines of verse that chiefly employ [[Iamb|Iambs]] such as Iambic Pentameter have a sing song quality, and more closely match the natural tendencies of conversational speech.  In contrast, trochees come across as more punctuated, authoritative, connotative of power, and finality.

Often the use of trochaic meter is an indication of a switch in tone or voice.  Lines of verse that chiefly employ [[Iamb]]s such as Iambic Pentameter have a sing song quality, and more closely match the natural tendencies of conversational speech.  In contrast, trochees come across as more punctuated, authoritative, connotative of power, and finality.

An example of tonal change can be found in [[William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's]] [[King Lear]] in the final [[stanza]] in which King Lear speaks before he dies.

An example of tonal change can be found in [[William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's]] [[King Lear]] in the final [[stanza]] in which King Lear speaks before he dies.