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classical eleven-syllable line

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 metrical line of eleven syllables used in classical and Romance-language poetry, such as the Italian endecasillabo

Detailed Definition
Classical eleven-syllable line, or hendecasyllable, is a metrical line prominent in Latin and Italian poetry, consisting of eleven syllables with a specific stress pattern (typically spondaic or iambic). Used by Catullus and later by Petrarch, it offers rhythmic flexibility between lyricism and narrative flow, influencing European versification and serving as a foundational line in Italian sonnet tradition.
Example
Example in poetry:
Catullus 1: "Cui dono lepidum novum libellum..." (11 syllables per line in Latin hendecasyllabics); Italian endecasillabo in Dante’s "Inferno": "Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita"; Spanish "endecasílabo" in Garcilaso de la Vega; Modern English approximation: "The wind moves through the trees with gentle sighs" (11 syllables)
Additional Notes
Classical eleven-syllable line (hendecasyllable) originates in Greek and Latin poetry (e.g., Catullus); in English, it’s adapted as a flexible iambic line—students should practice scanning such lines to appreciate its lyrical fluency; it’s the basis for eleven-syllable meter (12093) and appears in translations of classical works.
Also Known As
hendecasyllabic line classical hendecasyllable eleven-syllable meter endecasillabo classical eleven Horatian hendecasyllable
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