Home › Glossary › Letter A

Alcaic middle line

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

The third line of the classical Alcaic stanza, distinguished by its unique metrical pattern: two dactyls followed by a trochee and a spondee.

Detailed Definition
Alcaic middle line is the third line of the Alcaic strophe, consisting of nine syllables arranged in a distinctive pattern. This shorter line creates a metrical pivot point between the two longer opening lines and the closing decasyllable. The compression of this middle line produces a rhythmic shift that adds dynamic variation to the stanza, contributing to the overall musical quality that made Alcaic verse popular among ancient Greek and Roman poets.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Horace’s Alcaic strophe, the middle line is shorter (typically nine syllables); It often introduces a turn or emotional pivot; Swinburne’s imitation: “Shed no tear—Ope no eye” captures its concise force; The middle line contrasts with longer opening lines for rhythmic variation; Contemporary poets use it to insert doubt or revelation mid-stanza.
Additional Notes
Alcaic middle line refers to the second line of the Alcaic strophe, typically an 11-syllable line with the same metrical pattern as the long line, but sometimes varied in its final two feet.
Also Known As
Alcaic medial line Middle Alcaic verse Central Alcaic unit Alcaic pentameter
Skip to main content