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Masculine Ending

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 line of verse that ends with a stressed syllable, as opposed to a feminine ending which ends on an unstressed syllable

Detailed Definition
Masculine Ending in poetry refers to a line of verse that concludes with a stressed syllable, giving the line a forceful, definite closure; it contrasts with feminine ending, which ends on an unstressed syllable. Masculine endings are common in English iambic pentameter, as in the final monosyllabic stress of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth doth murder sleep,” where the emphatic conclusion heightens tension and impact.
Example
Example in poetry:
Masculine Ending|Line concluding with stressed syllable; Strong, emphatic final beat; "And MILES to GO before I SLEEP"; Single-syllable rhyme creating closure
Additional Notes
Line ending on stressed syllable. Creates strong closure. Opposite of feminine ending. Study tip: Clap rhythm; final stress adds weight and finality to line.
Also Known As
Stressed ending Strong final syllable Accented close Masculine closure Masculine cadence Masculine
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