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Dimeter truncated

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 two feet that is abruptly cut short, creating a clipped, staccato rhythm; poets use this truncated form for emphatic brevity, to heighten tension, or to deliver a sharp, memorable closure.

Detailed Definition
Dimeter truncated reduces dimeter further, used in epigrams for stark impact. It distills; poets choose it for aphoristic power, capturing wisdom in minimal rhythmic space.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dimeter truncated removes syllables from a dimeter line, as in "Wind blows" (truncated); "Stars shine" (truncated dimeter); "Fire burns" (truncated); "Bells ring" (truncated dimeter); "Heart beats" (truncated); "Moon rises" (truncated dimeter).
Additional Notes
Dimeter truncated shortens a dimeter line below its expected length, achieving maximum concision; this minimalism focuses attention on key words and is effective in aphoristic or minimalist poetry.
Also Known As
Truncated dimeter shortened two-foot line
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