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Heroic 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

Iambic pentameter, especially when used in elevated or narrative contexts

Detailed Definition
Heroic meter typically denotes dactylic hexameter in classical epic poetry (e.g., Homer, Virgil), characterized by six metrical feet per line, usually dactyls or spondees; in English, the term sometimes refers to iambic pentameter when used for elevated or narrative verse, though true dactylic hexameter is challenging due to linguistic differences.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dactylic hexameter in Longfellow’s “Evangeline”; Iambic pentameter blank verse in Milton’s “Paradise Lost”; Heroic couplets in Dryden and Pope; Modern heroic meter in Derek Walcott’s “Omeros,” adapting Homeric hexameter to Caribbean rhythm
Additional Notes
Heroic meter typically denotes dactylic hexameter in classical epics (e.g., Homer) or iambic pentameter in English heroic poetry.
Also Known As
Dactylic hexameter Epic meter Classical heroic rhythm Grand meter Enoplian verse Rising pentameter Epic rhythm Heroic
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