pentameter etymology

Etymology

Pentameter comes from the Greek words "pente" (five) and "metron" (measure).

Meaning

Pentameter refers to a line of poetry that consists of five metrical feet.

Origin

Pentameter originated in ancient Greece, where it was used in epic poetry and drama. The most common type of pentameter is iambic pentameter, which consists of five iambs, or pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables:

da-DUM | da-DUM | da-DUM | da-DUM | da-DUM

Examples of iambic pentameter lines:

  • "To be or not to be, that is the question." (William Shakespeare)
  • "The sun doth shine, and the birds do sing." (William Blake)

Pentameter is a versatile poetic form that can be used to convey a wide range of emotions and ideas. It is commonly used in narrative poetry, dramatic verse, and sonnets.

pentameter relate terms

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