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Even meter

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 scheme characterized by regularity and lack of variation

Detailed Definition
Even meter describes verse in which the metrical pattern flows smoothly without irregularities, substitutions, or disruptions, resulting in a regular, predictable rhythm that supports clarity and lyrical grace.
Example
Example in poetry:
Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets use unvarying iambic pentameter, creating even meter; Alexander Pope’s “An Essay on Criticism” maintains smooth heroic couplets without metrical disruption; Emily Dickinson’s hymn-meter poems (alternating iambic tetrameter/trimeter) show consistent evenness; Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha” uses unbroken trochaic tetrameter for rhythmic steadiness.
Additional Notes
Even meter maintains regular, uninterrupted rhythmic patterns; avoids substitutions or irregularities; prized in neoclassical poetry for clarity and control.
Also Known As
Regular meter Steady meter Unvaried meter Isometric verse Balanced measure
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