heroic meter
- noun
- /hɪˈroʊɪk ˈmiːtər/
- Literature
:
métrica heroica
- Homer's 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey' are prime examples of literature written in heroic meter.
Examples
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Many epic poems in Greek literature are composed in heroic meter.
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Learning about heroic meter helps students appreciate the structure of classical poetry.
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Shakespeare frequently wrote his plays in heroic meter to convey grandeur and drama.
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Many epic poems are written in heroic meter.
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The heroic meter gives a grand tone to poetry.
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Studying heroic meter allows poets to create works that resonate with themes of bravery and valor.
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By using heroic meter, poets can elevate their subjects, adding a sense of nobility to their verses.
Synonyms
25
8.9
A poem form used for long, serious stories
A pattern of long lines in poetry used for grand stories like epic poems
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'heroic' (relating to heroes/epic subject matter) with 'meter' (a poetic beat pattern), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a metrical pattern used for heroic or elevated subjects. Although somewhat technical in literary register, the adjective+noun composition is compositional and cross-linguistically transparent, making the meaning derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Heroic meter comes from a simple image: heroic means poems about heroes and meter means the steady beat of a poem. Poets used a strong, regular beat for long, grand stories, so the term now means the rhythm used for 'epic' or 'serious' poems.