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Accentual tetrameter

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A meter measured by four strongly stressed syllables per line, regardless of the number of unstressed syllables; it gives Old English and modern accentual verse a driving, percussive rhythm suited to narrative.

Detailed Definition
Accentual tetrameter is a four-stress line common in English folk poetry and ballads, where each line contains four accented syllables with variable numbers of unstressed syllables; it creates a driving, song-like rhythm, exemplified in nursery rhymes and traditional verse like “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”
Example
Example in poetry:
Accentual tetrameter: "The wind blew wild, the night grew cold" — four strong stresses per line, common in traditional ballads like "The Ballad of Chevy Chase."
Additional Notes
Four-stress line in accentual meter. Very common in English ballads, hymns, nursery rhymes. Variable syllable count between stresses. Natural to English speech patterns.
Also Known As
Stress-based tetrameter Beat tetrameter Accentual four-beat line
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