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Alcaic 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 four-line stanza form derived from Alcaeus, featuring specific metrical patterns

Detailed Definition
Alcaic tetrameter is a four-line stanza form attributed to the Greek poet Alcaeus, consisting of two longer lines followed by a shorter third line and a concluding line of intermediate length; adapted by Horace in Latin and later by Renaissance poets, it features a distinctive rhythm blending dactylic and trochaic elements for lyrical or political expression.
Example
Example in poetry:
Alcaic tetrameter refers to the four-line Alcaic stanza (not four metrical feet); each line has a distinct length, as in Swinburne’s “Sapphics and Alcaics”: “The sea is full of royal things…”
Additional Notes
Four-foot Alcaic line used in variations of the Alcaic stanza. Related to Alcaic pentameter and hendecasyllabic line. Study how stress patterns substitute for classical quantity when adapting to English.
Also Known As
Alcaic four-foot Alcaic short line Horatian tetrameter
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