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catalexis at beginning

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

Truncation that removes syllables from the start of a line, leaving it metrically incomplete at the opening

Detailed Definition
Catalexis at beginning refers to the rare metrical phenomenon where a line starts with an incomplete foot, omitting initial unstressed syllables; this technique creates immediate emphasis on the first stressed syllable, disrupting expected rhythm to draw attention to opening words, as occasionally seen in experimental or accentual verse seeking percussive impact.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Catalexis at beginning: line starts incomplete, missing initial syllable, e.g., ‘’round the hill’ instead of ‘Around the hill’.”; “Beginning of a line truncated for meter emphasis or abrupt effect.”
Additional Notes
A rare metrical variation where the first foot of the line is catalectic (missing an expected unstressed syllable); This creates a stressed opening that immediately draws attention; Related to catalectic opening.
Also Known As
initial catalexis opening truncation beginning catalectic line Acephalous
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