Measured poetry

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

Poetry composed in consistent, regular metrical patterns, adhering to established rhythmic structures like iambic pentameter.

Detailed Definition
Measured poetry employs consistent, regular meter—such as iambic pentameter or dactylic hexameter—as its rhythmic foundation; characteristic of classical, Renaissance, and neoclassical verse, it creates predictability and musicality, though skilled poets introduce subtle variations (substitutions, pauses) to avoid monotony and enhance expressive nuance.
Example
Example in poetry:
Shakespearean sonnets in strict iambic pentameter; Milton’s blank verse in "Paradise Lost"; Classical dactylic hexameter in translations of Homer; Regular ballad meter (4-3-4-3 stress pattern); Alexander Pope’s heroic couplets with precise iambic pentameter
Additional Notes
Measured poetry uses regular, consistent meter (e.g., iambic pentameter, dactylic hexameter); foundational in classical and Renaissance verse; students should practice scansion to identify patterns and variations; contrasts with free verse; "measured" implies intentionality, not rigidity—subtle substitutions add life.
Also Known As
Skip to main content