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Eleven-syllable pentameter

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 five-foot line totaling eleven syllables, blending classical and vernacular traditions

Detailed Definition
Eleven-syllable pentameter refers to a five-foot line totaling eleven syllables, typically achieved by adding a feminine ending (an extra unstressed syllable) to standard iambic pentameter; this subtle expansion softens the line’s cadence, enabling greater fluidity and emotional nuance, particularly in lyrical or meditative poetry.
Example
Example in poetry:
A pentameter line with an extra syllable: “To be, or not to be—that is the question” (11 syllables); “When I do count the clock that tells the time” (Shakespeare, 11); “The quality of mercy is not strain’d” (11 with feminine ending); “And all the air a solemn stillness holds” (Gray, 11 syllables)
Additional Notes
Eleven-syllable pentameter typically refers to iambic pentameter with an added unstressed syllable (feminine ending), creating a gentler closure; common in Shakespeare’s later plays and lyrical poetry for emotional nuance.
Also Known As
Hendecasyllabic pentameter eleven-beat pentameter iambic pentameter with feminine ending extended pentameter line
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