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Alcaic hendecasyllable

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 eleven-syllable line in the Alcaic stanza pattern, typically with a specific stress pattern

Detailed Definition
Alcaic hendecasyllable is an eleven-syllable line adapted from the classical Alcaic stanza (used by Alcaeus and Horace), typically structured with a trochaic opening followed by a spondee and dactylic close; in English, it’s approximated through stress patterns rather than syllable count, lending lyrical gravity to odes and meditative verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
An Alcaic hendecasyllable follows the classical 11-syllable pattern (e.g., spondee–dactyl–trochee–trochee), as adapted by Swinburne: “When the hounds of spring are on winter’s traces…”
Additional Notes
Alcaic hendecasyllable: An 11-syllable line from the Alcaic stanza (used by Alcaeus and Horace), typically structured as two trochees, a dactyl, and two more trochees; adapted by Renaissance poets like Sidney.
Also Known As
Alcaic eleven-syllable Alcaic long line Horatian hendecasyllable
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