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unshortened limping pentameter

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 complete pentameter line that concludes with a "limping" (spondaic or pyrrhic) cadence rather than a standard iambic ending.

Detailed Definition
Unshortened limping pentameter refers to a pentameter line that maintains full metrical length without truncation, even when concluding with a weak or feminine ending; unlike “limping” lines that drop a final unstressed syllable for rhythmic effect, this form preserves completeness, often for solemn or expansive tone.
Example
Example in poetry:
An iambic pentameter line ending with a full unstressed syllable: “To be or not to be, that is the question” (11 syllables, ending with unstressed “-tion”); “The quality of mercy is not strainèd” (11 syllables, final syllable unstressed); “And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest” (11 syllables); “For never was a story of more woe” (10 syllables but ending with full unstressed “-oe” sound)
Additional Notes
Unshortened limping pentameter: Likely a variant or theoretical term for a five-foot line where one foot is a spondee (stressed-stressed) or trochee (stressed-unstressed) within an otherwise iambic line, causing a metrical 'limp' or hesitation, but the line still contains a full five feet, unlike a truncated line.
Also Known As
Full limping pentameter Extended limping five-beat Complete limping pentameter Choliambic pentameter acatalectic
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