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Horatian tetrameter

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 four-foot metrical line modeled on Horace’s Latin odes, often combining iambs and spondees for lyrical, reflective tone.

Detailed Definition
Horatian tetrameter describes a four-foot line in the manner of Horace’s lyric poetry, often iambic but allowing substitutions, used for epistolary or reflective verse that values conversational ease, metrical suppleness, and thematic moderation; it avoids rigid regularity in favor of natural speech rhythms elevated by classical allusion and ethical nuance.
Example
Example in poetry:
Horatian tetrameter (Alcaic quatrain) appears in Horace’s Odes I.9: “Vides ut alta stet nive candidum Soracte”; Ezra Pound’s “Alcaics” adapts it: “Be in me as the eternal mow”; modern example: A.M. Juster writes original Horatian tetrameters on contemporary themes; this meter blends dactyls and trochees for lyrical balance; it’s suited to reflection and moderation; Horatian tetrameter avoids epic grandeur for intimate wisdom.
Additional Notes
A four-foot line (tetrameter) employed by Horace in his Odes, often featuring a trochaic or dactylic pattern; part of the classical rhythmic repertoire that emphasizes a measured, controlled pace.
Also Known As
Horatian four-foot line classical tetrameter Roman tetrameter verse Alcaic tetrameter
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