heroic verse
- noun
- /həˈroʊɪk vɜrs/
- Literature
:
verso heroico
- Many famous poems, like Milton's 'Paradise Lost', utilize heroic verse to explore grand and noble subjects.
Examples
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Shakespeare often employed heroic verse in his works.
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The use of heroic verse in epics gives them a stately and elevated tone.
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Many classical poets composed in heroic verse to emphasize their stories of myth and legend.
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Milton's 'Paradise Lost' is written in heroic verse to suit its grand subject matter.
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The poem was written in heroic verse.
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In classical literature, heroic verse is often written in dactylic hexameter, a form that elevates its lofty themes.
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The tradition of heroic verse continues to inspire modern poets seeking to capture themes of bravery and valor.
Synonyms
25
8.9
A poem form used for long, serious stories
A fixed rhythm used in long poems about heroes and grand events
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'heroic' (relating to heroes or lofty/epic themes) modifies 'verse' (poetry), so together they denote poetry or a metrical form used for heroic/epic subjects. This adjective+noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistic composition and therefore a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning, despite its slightly specialized literary register.
Etymology
Heroic verse comes from old epic poems where poets used a steady, strong line to tell stories about brave people and gods; the word heroic named the grand subject and verse named the poem lines. That's why heroic verse now means a verse form used for 'heroic' or very serious subjects.