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Heroic Couplet : A heroic couplet is a set of two lines that rhyme and that is written in iambic pentameter. This means that the lines contain ten syllables each.They are divided into pairs of two; each of these is known as a metrical ―foot. Within the foot, one of the syllables is unstressed, and the second is stressed. Iambic pentameter is the most commonly metrical pattern used throughout English verse.
Example.: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
⦿ This incredibly famous poem is a collection of twenty-four stories, written in verse, that were written between 1387 and 1400. The poem contains over 17,000 lines. Throughout this piece, readers can find examples of heroic couplets.
She was a worthy womman Al hir life
Housebondes at church Dore she hadde five
Withouten other companye in youthe;
But therof nedeth nat to speke as nouthe.
And thryes hadde she been at Ierusalem;
She hadde passed many a straunge streem;
In these lines, there are two examples of heroic couplets. The first two lines, ending with “life” and “five,” as well as the last two, ending in “Jerusalem” and “streem.” These lines are found in the General Prologue.
Soon had their hosts in bloody battle join‘d;
But westward to the sea the sun declin‘d.
Intrench‘d before the town both armies lie,
While Night with sable wings involves the sky
These four lines are the most commonly cited for heroic
couplets in the epic poem. They both contain two lines with
ten syllables each. These lines are written in iambic
pentameter and contain rhyming end words. ―Join‘d‖ rhymes
with ―declin‘d‖ (through the poet‘s use of syncope and a
half-rhyme), and ―lie‖ rhymes with ―sky.
These four lines are the most commonly cited for heroic couplets in the epic poem. They both contain two lines with ten syllables each. These lines are written in iambic pentameter and contain rhyming end words. ―Join‘d‖ rhymes with ―declin‘d (through the poet‘s use of syncope and a half-rhyme), and ―lie‖ rhymes with ―sky.
Meter : Meter is a literary device that works as a structural element in poetry. Essentially, meter is the basic rhythmic structure of a line within a poem or poetic work. Meter governs individual units within a line of poetry, called ―feet.‖ A ―foot‖ of a poetic work features a specific number of syllables and pattern of emphasis.
⦿ Trochee: stressed syllable followed by unstressed syllable, as in ―custom‖
⦿ Iamb: unstressed syllable followed by stressed syllable, as in ―describe‖
⦿ Spondee: equal stress for both syllables, as in ―cupcake‖
⦿ Dactyl: stressed syllable, followed by two unstressed syllables, as in ―bicycle‖
⦿ Anapest: two unstressed syllables, followed by a stressed syllable, as in ―understand
Types of meter :
◘‣ one foot = monometer ◘‣ two feet = dimeter
◘‣ three feet = trimeter ◘‣ four feet = Iatetrameter
◘‣ five feet = pentameter ◘‣ six feet = hexameter
◘‣ seven feet = heptameter ◘‣ eight feet = octameter
Example.:
⦿ Shall I compare thee to a summer‘s day? (iambic pentameter)
⦿ Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, (trochaic octameter)
⦿ Out, damned spot! Out, I say! (spondaic trimeter)
⦿ The itsy, bitsy spider (iambic trimeter)
⦿ Stop all the clocks, / Cut off the telephone (dactylic dimeter)
⦿ I wandered, lonely as a cloud (iambic tetrameter)
⦿ ―Forward, the Light Brigade! / Charge for the guns!‖ he said. (dactylic dimeter)
⦿ Fair is foul and foul is fair. (trochaic tetrameter)
⦿ But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? (iambic pentameter)
⦿ Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house (anapestic tetrameter)
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