297:
472:
117:
365:
20:
261:
in fact denominated this verse the "fifteenth-century heroic" while both simplifying and broadening its metrical definition: a line with a sharp medial caesura, each resulting half-line having from 2 to 3 stresses, most hovering between 2 and 3. Lewis exemplifies his conception of the
489:
is a pair of iambic pentameter lines that rime together. Frequently, the term is associated with the balanced, closed couplets that dominated
English verse from roughly 1640 to 1790, although the form dates back to Chaucer, and remains in use often in a looser form.
238:
The practice in these years has been characterized as incompetent ("bad shambling heroics"), but alternatively as a distinct meter that embraces lines that qualify as well-formed iambic pentameter as well as others that don't.
565:
had again been established as the French heroic verse, completely ousting the alexandrine. The alexandrine, in a slightly stricter form, was resurrected in the middle of the 16th century by the poets of the
84:
The Greek/Roman dactylic hexameter exerted a huge influence over the subsequent poetic practice of much of Europe, whether by the new accentual verseforms it evolved into (as the medieval riming
46:" or not). Because the meter typically used to narrate heroic deeds differs by language and even within language by period, the specific meaning of "heroic verse" is dependent upon context.
634:
Lewis's accents are retained, but always placed on the syllable's initial vowel; his added line divisions are replaced with "|" and the ensuing capitals reduced.
382:
vied with iambic pentameter as the
English heroic verse during the mid-16th-century, especially for translation from classical drama and narrative, notably:
235:), in England itself changes in pronunciation or taste soon rendered Chaucer's technique extinct, and iambic pentameter disappeared for over 100 years.
1510:
468:(1590-1596), established the iambic pentameter—rimed for narrative and lyric and largely unrimed for drama—as the English heroic line.
252:
which he then further multiplied by allowing that sometimes the caesura could appear elsewhere (most commonly after the third accent):
197:(mainly of the 14th century) likely constituted a continuation (though in evolved form) of the earlier tradition. However, around 1380
77:
was used in Latin epics of the 3rd century B.C.E., but few examples remain and the meter is little understood. Beginning at least with
1150:
559:
appearing in the 11th century; then, around 1200 the alexandrine began its first period of dominance; however, by 1400 the
81:(239–169 B.C.E.) dactylic hexameter was introduced in imitation of the Greeks, thereafter becoming the Latin heroic meter.
1473:
1417:
1268:
1192:
1123:
1076:
1015:
1318:
296:
315:
300:
97:
246:(×) / × / (×) | (×) / × / × / (×) where /=accented syllable; ×=unaccented syllable; (×)=optional; and |=
1533:
1380:
446:
101:
1172:
471:
1528:
1404:
1384:
1255:
1110:
1063:
1002:
643:
Caesura markings have been added to both French and
English texts to clarify the line structure.
219:. Although Chaucer's practice was largely preserved to the north by the Scottish Chaucerians (
89:
1504:
1361:
108:, and many others), or simply as an ideal of what a nation's heroic verse should aspire to.
1499:
458:
264:
194:
116:
42:(s) in which those poems are most typically written (regardless of whether the content is "
8:
1287:
379:
311:
220:
1439:
1462:
1336:
1234:
1184:
550:
515:
491:
475:
387:
143:
129:
93:
74:
55:
332:
that was re-embraced as
English heroic verse. Using this line, Surrey also introduced
1479:
1469:
1445:
1423:
1413:
1390:
1368:
1344:
1324:
1314:
1293:
1274:
1264:
1241:
1220:
1214:
1198:
1188:
1177:
1156:
1146:
1129:
1119:
1108:
Devine, Andrew M.; Stephens, Laurence D.; Brogan, T.V.F.; Costas, Procope S. (1993).
1082:
1072:
1049:
1042:
1021:
1011:
464:
202:
23:"Heroic verse": seems like it's describing the genre, but it's really describing the
1210:
1168:
1094:
1037:
198:
1098:
58:, which was already well-established in the 9th and 8th centuries B.C.E. when the
440:
224:
207:
1457:
1435:
1033:
486:
479:
405:
391:
383:
368:
329:
240:
228:
105:
39:
24:
1449:
1348:
1224:
1202:
1522:
1483:
1427:
1394:
1372:
1328:
1297:
1278:
1245:
1160:
1133:
1086:
1053:
1025:
400:
325:
318:
in the 1530s or 1540s. It was Surrey's line (modeled this time on the French
232:
85:
1048:. Bolingen Series XLI. Vol. One: The Illiad. New York: Pantheon Books.
710:
545:
495:
320:
88:), by attempts at reviving it either quantitatively or accentually (as by
1356:
1307:
452:
333:
304:
258:
139:
656:
54:
The oldest Greek verseform, and the Greek line for heroic verse, is the
216:
35:
567:
1503:
528:
531:(also "elegiac quatrain") is a stanza of iambic pentameter riming
423:
That no light comforts; and their lims to dogs and vultures gave.
364:
247:
243:
for example, laid out a 16-type pattern for "five-accent verse":
212:
134:
122:
66:
553:
have taken turns as the language's heroic verseform: first, the
19:
78:
1389:(Revised ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press.
890:
421:
From breasts
Heroique—sent them farre, to that invisible cave
372:
60:
818:
806:
419:
Infinite sorrowes on the Greeks, and many brave soules losd
395:
43:
1408:. In Preminger, Alex; Brogan, T.V.F.; et al. (eds.).
1259:. In Preminger, Alex; Brogan, T.V.F.; et al. (eds.).
1114:. In Preminger, Alex; Brogan, T.V.F.; et al. (eds.).
1107:
1067:. In Preminger, Alex; Brogan, T.V.F.; et al. (eds.).
1006:. In Preminger, Alex; Brogan, T.V.F.; et al. (eds.).
953:
716:
662:
595:
Thus, seeing us all march | in league and with such favor,
1367:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 45–57.
417:
Achilles' banefull wrath resound, O Goddesse, that imposd
1145:. Studies in Linguistics. Vol. 5. London: Legenda.
941:
919:
917:
878:
770:
1216:
The
Poetical Works Of Edmund Waller And Sir John Denham
977:
965:
866:
830:
746:
700:
698:
262:"fifteenth-century heroic line" with this excerpt from
142:, as, in several closely related forms, it was for all
854:
782:
685:
683:
593:
To three thousand we grew | as we approached the port.
591:
As five hundred we left, | but soon we gained support:
578:
Nous partîmes cinq cents; | mais par un prompt renfort
914:
902:
668:
1410:
The New
Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
1261:
The New
Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
1116:
The New
Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
1069:
The New
Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
1008:
The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
929:
758:
734:
722:
695:
597:
The fear melted away, | the throng becoming braver!
507:
Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;
842:
794:
680:
1461:
1403:
1360:
1306:
1254:
1233:
1176:
1109:
1062:
1041:
1001:
580:Nous nous vîmes trois mille | en arrivant au port,
1514:. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). pp. 385–386.
494:exemplifies, and describes (while addressing the
281:Had spóke in anóther wórld | þát had wóo begóon.
38:, but which is more usually used to describe the
1520:
120:The first page from the sole manuscript copy of
582:Tant, à nous voir marcher | avec un tel visage,
509:Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full.
503:Oh, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
275:And ón a rèwde máner | he salútyd àll the róut,
1359:(1969) . "The Fifteenth-Century Heroic Line".
1252:
896:
584:Les plus épouvantés | reprenaient de courage!
336:into English, previous instances being rimed.
146:more or less during the first millennium C.E.
560:
554:
498:), the neoclassical closed heroic couplet:
349:Mildly doth flow along the frutfull felds.
345:So shalt thou reach at last Hesperian land,
279:Bút he spáke all hólow, | ás hit hád be óon
273:His shéte from his bódy | dówn he let fáll,
570:, and has retained its status since then.
343:Long to furrow large space of stormy seas;
277:Wíth a bóld vòyse | cárpying wórdÿs stóut.
1412:. New York: MJF Books. pp. 522–524.
1379:
1263:. New York: MJF Books. pp. 424–425.
1209:
1118:. New York: MJF Books. pp. 525–526.
1093:
1010:. New York: MJF Books. pp. 524–525.
983:
947:
884:
872:
1434:
1386:The Poems of Henry Howard Earl of Surrey
1167:
971:
824:
812:
674:
470:
363:
347:Wher Lidian Tiber with his gentle streme
295:
115:
34:is a term that may be used to designate
18:
1335:
1304:
1285:
1253:Hardison, O.B.; Brogan, T.V.F. (1993).
1140:
1032:
959:
908:
860:
788:
776:
764:
752:
740:
728:
616:
341:A long exile thou art assigned to bere,
1521:
1456:
1341:The Development of Germanic Verse Form
999:
923:
704:
310:Iambic pentameter was re-developed by
1498:
1468:. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press.
1401:
1355:
1343:. Austin: University of Texas Press.
1313:. Austin: University of Texas Press.
1231:
1071:. New York: MJF Books. p. 1117.
935:
848:
836:
800:
1464:All the Fun's in How You Say a Thing
1060:
689:
572:
505:My great example, as it is my theme!
255:(×) / × / × / (×) | (×) / × / (×)
1179:A History of European Versification
13:
1492:
1441:A History of English Versification
49:
14:
1545:
1309:Beowulf: An Imitative Translation
1289:A History of French Versification
186:Beowulf: An Imitative Translation
1097:(1912). Searles, Colbert (ed.).
1444:. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.
1292:. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.
637:
628:
608:Act IV, scene 3, lines 1259-62
205:, based chiefly on the Italian
1402:Piper, William Bowman (1993).
1183:. Translated by Smith, G. S.;
1143:A New History of English Metre
1:
650:
462:(1580s, published 1591), and
438:However, landmark works like
70:were composed in this meter.
1236:The Metres of English Poetry
301:Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
7:
1381:Padelford, Frederick Morgan
1305:Lehmann, Ruth P.M. (1988).
1219:. Edinburgh: James Nichol.
1187:. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
1141:Duffell, Martin J. (2008).
1103:. Boston: Ginn and Company.
357:Translations from the Æneid
10:
1550:
992:
897:Hardison & Brogan 1993
447:The Mirror for Magistrates
138:) was the heroic verse of
111:
538:
1363:Selected Literary Essays
1061:Cole, A. Thomas (1993).
621:
576:
478:, influential writer of
303:, originator of English
211:and composed chiefly in
173:the hall loud with glee;
167:to the delight each day,
161:he who in murk lingered.
1511:Encyclopædia Britannica
1286:Kastner, L. E. (1903).
1000:Brogan, T.V.F. (1993).
359:Book 2, lines 1035-1039
175:sweet was the singing,
1171:(1996). Smith, G. S.;
589:
561:
555:
525:
482:
436:
375:
362:
307:
294:
201:developed the English
191:
126:
28:
1500:Gosse, Edmund William
500:
474:
414:
367:
338:
299:
270:
151:Then that sorry soul
148:
119:
22:
16:Class of poetic verse
1505:"Heroic Verse"
1232:Hamer, Enid (1930).
1173:Holford-Strevens, L.
617:Notes and references
459:Astrophel and Stella
444:(1561), portions of
265:The Assembly of Gods
195:Alliterative Revival
1337:Lehmann, Winfred P.
1240:. London: Methuen.
1185:Tarlinskaja, Marina
962:, pp. 142–146.
827:, pp. 211–212.
815:, pp. 209–210.
386:'s translations of
221:James I of Scotland
132:(as exemplified by
839:, pp. 45, 50.
719:, p. 526-527.
717:Devine et al. 1993
663:Devine et al. 1993
483:
394:'s translation of
376:
308:
179:sound of harping.
163:Alone he listened
144:Germanic languages
130:Alliterative verse
127:
56:dactylic hexameter
29:
1534:History of poetry
1211:Gilfillan, George
1152:978-1-907975-13-4
1095:Corneille, Pierre
1038:Nicoll, Allardyce
614:
613:
465:The Faerie Queene
433:Book 1, lines 1-4
324:) as finessed by
203:iambic pentameter
169:human happiness,
1541:
1515:
1507:
1487:
1467:
1453:
1431:
1407:
1398:
1376:
1366:
1352:
1332:
1312:
1301:
1282:
1258:
1249:
1239:
1228:
1206:
1182:
1164:
1137:
1113:
1104:
1090:
1066:
1057:
1047:
1029:
1005:
987:
981:
975:
969:
963:
957:
951:
945:
939:
933:
927:
921:
912:
906:
900:
894:
888:
882:
876:
870:
864:
858:
852:
846:
840:
834:
828:
822:
816:
810:
804:
798:
792:
786:
780:
779:, p. 86-87.
774:
768:
762:
756:
755:, p. 23-24.
750:
744:
738:
732:
726:
720:
714:
708:
702:
693:
687:
678:
672:
666:
660:
644:
641:
635:
632:
573:
564:
558:
523:
434:
371:, translator of
360:
292:
289:Assembly of Gods
199:Geoffrey Chaucer
189:
178:
172:
166:
160:
157:most miserably,
155:suffered awhile,
154:
1549:
1548:
1544:
1543:
1542:
1540:
1539:
1538:
1529:Types of verses
1519:
1518:
1495:
1493:Further reading
1490:
1476:
1458:Steele, Timothy
1436:Schipper, Jakob
1420:
1321:
1271:
1195:
1169:Gasparov, M. L.
1153:
1126:
1079:
1044:Chapman's Homer
1034:Chapman, George
1018:
995:
990:
982:
978:
970:
966:
958:
954:
946:
942:
934:
930:
922:
915:
907:
903:
895:
891:
883:
879:
871:
867:
859:
855:
847:
843:
835:
831:
823:
819:
811:
807:
799:
795:
787:
783:
775:
771:
763:
759:
751:
747:
739:
735:
727:
723:
715:
711:
703:
696:
692:, p. 1117.
688:
681:
673:
669:
661:
657:
653:
648:
647:
642:
638:
633:
629:
624:
619:
599:
596:
594:
592:
586:
583:
581:
579:
541:
524:
514:
511:
508:
506:
504:
480:heroic couplets
435:
428:
425:
422:
420:
418:
361:
354:
351:
348:
346:
344:
342:
293:
286:
283:
280:
278:
276:
274:
256:
250:
225:Robert Henryson
190:
184:
181:
176:
174:
170:
168:
164:
162:
158:
156:
152:
114:
52:
50:Greek and Latin
17:
12:
11:
5:
1547:
1537:
1536:
1531:
1517:
1516:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1488:
1474:
1454:
1432:
1418:
1399:
1383:, ed. (1928).
1377:
1353:
1333:
1319:
1302:
1283:
1269:
1250:
1229:
1213:, ed. (1857).
1207:
1193:
1165:
1151:
1138:
1124:
1105:
1091:
1077:
1058:
1030:
1016:
1003:"Heroic verse"
996:
994:
991:
989:
988:
984:Corneille 1912
976:
974:, p. 130.
964:
952:
950:, p. 221.
948:Gilfillan 1857
940:
938:, p. 522.
928:
926:, p. 319.
913:
901:
899:, p. 424.
889:
887:, p. 141.
885:Padelford 1928
877:
873:Padelford 1928
865:
863:, p. 135.
853:
841:
829:
817:
805:
793:
791:, p. 108.
781:
769:
757:
745:
733:
721:
709:
707:, p. 524.
694:
679:
667:
665:, p. 525.
654:
652:
649:
646:
645:
636:
626:
625:
623:
620:
618:
615:
612:
611:
609:
601:
600:
587:
543:In France the
540:
537:
512:
501:
487:heroic couplet
426:
415:
406:George Chapman
392:Arthur Golding
384:Jasper Heywood
369:George Chapman
352:
339:
330:Edmund Spenser
284:
271:
254:
245:
241:Jakob Schipper
229:William Dunbar
182:
149:
113:
110:
51:
48:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1546:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1526:
1524:
1513:
1512:
1506:
1501:
1497:
1496:
1485:
1481:
1477:
1475:0-8214-1260-4
1471:
1466:
1465:
1459:
1455:
1451:
1447:
1443:
1442:
1437:
1433:
1429:
1425:
1421:
1419:1-56731-152-0
1415:
1411:
1406:
1400:
1396:
1392:
1388:
1387:
1382:
1378:
1374:
1370:
1365:
1364:
1358:
1354:
1350:
1346:
1342:
1338:
1334:
1330:
1326:
1322:
1316:
1311:
1310:
1303:
1299:
1295:
1291:
1290:
1284:
1280:
1276:
1272:
1270:1-56731-152-0
1266:
1262:
1257:
1251:
1247:
1243:
1238:
1237:
1230:
1226:
1222:
1218:
1217:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1200:
1196:
1194:0-19-815879-3
1190:
1186:
1181:
1180:
1174:
1170:
1166:
1162:
1158:
1154:
1148:
1144:
1139:
1135:
1131:
1127:
1125:1-56731-152-0
1121:
1117:
1112:
1106:
1102:
1101:
1096:
1092:
1088:
1084:
1080:
1078:1-56731-152-0
1074:
1070:
1065:
1059:
1055:
1051:
1046:
1045:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1019:
1017:1-56731-152-0
1013:
1009:
1004:
998:
997:
986:, p. 62.
985:
980:
973:
972:Gasparov 1996
968:
961:
956:
949:
944:
937:
932:
925:
920:
918:
911:, p. 23.
910:
905:
898:
893:
886:
881:
875:, p. 51.
874:
869:
862:
857:
851:, p. 51.
850:
845:
838:
833:
826:
825:Schipper 1910
821:
814:
813:Schipper 1910
809:
803:, p. 46.
802:
797:
790:
785:
778:
773:
767:, p. 82.
766:
761:
754:
749:
743:, p. 24.
742:
737:
731:, p. 23.
730:
725:
718:
713:
706:
701:
699:
691:
686:
684:
677:, p. 71.
676:
675:Gasparov 1996
671:
664:
659:
655:
640:
631:
627:
610:
607:
603:
602:
598:
588:
585:
575:
574:
571:
569:
563:
557:
552:
548:
547:
536:
534:
530:
522:lines 189-192
521:
520:Cooper's Hill
517:
510:
499:
497:
493:
488:
481:
477:
473:
469:
467:
466:
461:
460:
455:
454:
450:(1559-1610),
449:
448:
443:
442:
432:
424:
413:
412:(1598-1611).
411:
407:
403:
402:
401:Metamorphoses
397:
393:
390:(1559-1561),
389:
385:
381:
374:
370:
366:
358:
350:
337:
335:
331:
327:
326:Philip Sidney
323:
322:
317:
313:
306:
302:
298:
291:lines 437-441
290:
282:
269:
267:
266:
260:
253:
249:
244:
242:
236:
234:
233:Gavin Douglas
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
209:
208:endecasillabo
204:
200:
196:
188:, lines 86-90
187:
180:
147:
145:
141:
137:
136:
131:
125:
124:
118:
109:
107:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
86:leonine verse
82:
80:
76:
71:
69:
68:
63:
62:
57:
47:
45:
41:
37:
33:
26:
21:
1509:
1463:
1440:
1409:
1405:"Fourteener"
1385:
1362:
1340:
1308:
1288:
1260:
1256:"Fourteener"
1235:
1215:
1178:
1142:
1115:
1099:
1068:
1043:
1007:
979:
967:
960:Kastner 1903
955:
943:
931:
909:Chapman 1956
904:
892:
880:
868:
861:Duffell 2008
856:
844:
832:
820:
808:
796:
789:Duffell 2008
784:
777:Duffell 2008
772:
765:Duffell 2008
760:
753:Lehmann 1956
748:
741:Lehmann 1988
736:
729:Lehmann 1956
724:
712:
670:
658:
639:
630:
605:
604:—Corneille:
590:
577:
544:
542:
532:
526:
519:
502:
496:River Thames
484:
463:
457:
451:
445:
439:
437:
430:
416:
409:
404:(1567), and
399:
377:
356:
340:
319:
309:
288:
272:
263:
257:
251:
237:
206:
192:
185:
150:
133:
128:
121:
83:
72:
65:
59:
53:
32:Heroic verse
31:
30:
1357:Lewis, C.S.
1111:"Hexameter"
1064:"Saturnian"
924:Steele 1999
705:Brogan 1993
562:décasyllabe
556:décasyllabe
551:alexandrine
546:décasyllabe
527:The heroic
492:John Denham
476:John Denham
456:(c. 1587),
453:Tamburlaine
334:blank verse
321:vers de dix
305:blank verse
287:Anonymous:
259:C. S. Lewis
140:Old English
1523:Categories
1450:1031802469
1349:1069932004
1320:0292707711
1225:1079173537
1203:1027190450
936:Piper 1993
849:Lewis 1969
837:Lewis 1969
801:Hamer 1930
651:References
380:fourteener
217:rime royal
102:Longfellow
94:Stanyhurst
36:epic poems
1484:490391272
1428:961668903
1395:474929877
1373:623321600
1329:246537832
1298:494022236
1279:961668903
1246:655669997
1161:751039247
1134:961668903
1087:961668903
1054:888671582
1026:961668903
690:Cole 1993
429:Chapman:
98:Klopstock
75:Saturnian
1502:(1911).
1460:(1999).
1438:(1910).
1339:(1956).
1175:(eds.).
1036:(1956).
529:quatrain
513:—
441:Gorboduc
427:—
355:Surrey:
353:—
285:—
213:couplets
183:—
1040:(ed.).
993:Sources
568:Pléiade
248:caesura
135:Beowulf
123:Beowulf
112:English
106:Bridges
90:Alberti
67:Odyssey
1482:
1472:
1448:
1426:
1416:
1393:
1371:
1347:
1327:
1317:
1296:
1277:
1267:
1244:
1223:
1201:
1191:
1159:
1149:
1132:
1122:
1100:Le Cid
1085:
1075:
1052:
1024:
1014:
606:Le Cid
539:French
516:Denham
388:Seneca
316:Surrey
215:or in
177:
171:
165:
159:
153:
79:Ennius
44:heroic
622:Notes
431:Iliad
410:Iliad
373:Homer
312:Wyatt
61:Iliad
40:meter
25:meter
1480:OCLC
1470:ISBN
1446:OCLC
1424:OCLC
1414:ISBN
1391:OCLC
1369:OCLC
1345:OCLC
1325:OCLC
1315:ISBN
1294:OCLC
1275:OCLC
1265:ISBN
1242:OCLC
1221:OCLC
1199:OCLC
1189:ISBN
1157:OCLC
1147:ISBN
1130:OCLC
1120:ISBN
1083:OCLC
1073:ISBN
1050:OCLC
1022:OCLC
1012:ISBN
549:and
533:ABAB
485:The
396:Ovid
378:The
328:and
314:and
231:and
193:The
73:The
64:and
408:'s
398:'s
1525::
1508:.
1478:.
1422:.
1323:.
1273:.
1197:.
1155:.
1128:.
1081:.
1020:.
916:^
697:^
682:^
535:.
518::
268::
227:,
223:,
104:,
100:,
96:,
92:,
1486:.
1452:.
1430:.
1397:.
1375:.
1351:.
1331:.
1300:.
1281:.
1248:.
1227:.
1205:.
1163:.
1136:.
1089:.
1056:.
1028:.
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
