Home › Glossary › Letter B

Bellwether line

Structure
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

An opening or early line that predicts or signals the poem's direction

Detailed Definition
A bellwether line is a leading or indicative line in a poem that signals a shift in tone, theme, or direction for what follows, acting as a herald or predictor of the poem’s evolving concerns; derived from “bellwether” (a lead sheep whose movements guide the flock), this line often appears just before a volta or section break, using subtle diction or imagery to foreshadow transformation, thereby preparing the reader for the poem’s next movement without explicit announcement.
Example
Example in poetry:
Bellwether line: In T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” the line “Do I dare disturb the universe?” serves as a bellwether line—signaling the poem’s central anxiety and thematic direction.
Additional Notes
Line indicating direction or change for rest of poem. Guiding or signaling line. Navigational metaphor. Related to beacon line and turning point. Use strategically to mark shifts or guide reader through complex material.
Also Known As
Leading line indicator verse prophetic line harbinger verse
Skip to main content