A term used by Gerard Manley Hopkins to describe the rhythm of most language and music which he observed to be patterned by a regular beat of stressed syllables, interspersed with a variable number of unstressed syllables. In Hopkins’ view, each foot began with a stress so the natural types of rhythm were dactyl, spondee and trochee, as in the following:
Spring and Fallto a young childMárgarét áre you gríeving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leáves líke the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? Áh! ás the heart grows older It will come to such sights colder By and by, nor spare a sigh Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie; And yet you wíll weep and know why. Now no matter, child, the name: Sórrows spríngs áre the same. Nor mouth had, no nor
170 words
Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Sprung Rhythm". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2001 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1036, accessed 14 March 2025.]
