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Choliambic pentameter acatalectic

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 complete five-foot choliambic line (scazon) without truncation, preserving the limping rhythm characteristic of the meter.

Detailed Definition
Choliambic pentameter acatalectic describes a five-foot choliambic line without truncation (acatalectic), maintaining the limping rhythm through spondaic substitution in the fifth foot while preserving full syllabic count; this rare hybrid form combines the satirical edge of choliamb with the expansiveness of pentameter, allowing for sustained ironic or grotesque narrative in experimental verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Choliambic pentameter acatalectic omits final syllable for abruptness: hypothetical example: “I rage against the dying light now”; the form appears in experimental translations of Greek satire; modern poets use it for jarring closure; choliambic pentameter acatalectic creates rhythmic dissonance; it suits themes of interruption or failure
Additional Notes
Complete five-foot choliambic line without catalexis, maintaining limping effect through all feet. Extremely rare in English. Related to choliambic hexameter but shorter. Creates sustained irregular rhythm throughout.
Also Known As
Five-foot choliambic complete full choliambic pentameter unshortened limping pentameter complete scazon
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