Hendecasyllabic hexameter

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 six-unit line of eleven syllables per unit, extending Roman lyric form

Detailed Definition
Hendecasyllabic hexameter is a metrical line comprising six feet, each typically an iamb or trochee, totaling eleven syllables—though this term is somewhat paradoxical since classical hexameter is quantitative and dactylic; in modern usage, it may refer to a hybrid or experimental line blending syllabic and accentual patterns, often found in neoclassical or Italian-influenced poetry.
Example
Example in poetry:
Hendecasyllabic hexameter: Six lines of 11 syllables each, e.g., “The moon pours silver on the sleeping town. / The river hums a lullaby so deep. / …”
Additional Notes
Six-line verse (hexameter) with 11 syllables per line. Combines line length with syllable count. Related: hendecasyllabic, hexameter. Study: syllabic vs. stress-based organization.
Also Known As
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