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Aeolic five-foot line

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

An Aeolic metrical line composed of five feet, extending the traditional Aeolic base for greater rhythmic complexity or length.

Detailed Definition
A verse line measuring five feet according to Aeolic metrical principles, combining various Aeolic foot types like choriambs, dactyls, and trochees in flexible arrangements. This length creates substantial lines capable of complex phrasing while maintaining lyric musicality. Five-foot Aeolic lines balance narrative capacity with lyric concision, suitable for extended meditation or storytelling. The Aeolic patterning allows rhythmic variety within metrical regularity, creating graceful, undulating cadences across the longer line.
Example
Example in poetry:
Alcaeus’ drinking songs use Aeolic five-foot lines mixing dactyls and trochees; Sappho’s wedding hymns employ five-foot Aeolic lines for processional rhythm; modern example: Josephine Balmer’s translations of Sappho retain five-foot Aeolic cadence; this line often appears in strophic pairs with varied metrical feet; it differs from hexameter by its asymmetrical, song-like quality; Aeolic five-foot lines prioritize melodic variation over epic regularity.
Additional Notes
Aeolic five-foot line is atypical; traditional Aeolic meters (Sapphic, Alcaic) are shorter; this may describe a modern hybrid or misattribution—check source carefully.
Also Known As
Aeolic pentameter Five-foot Aeolic line Extended Aeolic rhythm
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