Final answer:
Bryant's line is an example of iambic pentameter, a common metrical pattern in English poetry that features lines with ten syllables, structured as five sets of unstressed and stressed syllables.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bryant's line "shall send his roots abroad, and pierve thy mold" is an example of iambic pentameter. This style of poetic meter features five sets of iambs - or ten syllables - per line, where each iamb comprises an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Iambic pentameter is a common pattern in English poetry, providing a rhythm that resembles natural speech, offering a pronounced beat that can make verse feel more formal or elevated.
William Shakespeare is well-known for his extensive use of iambic pentameter, which not only added a musical rhythm to his plays and poems but also served various purposes, such as depicting character class and enhancing the literary significance of his work. Writing in this meter requires a balance between linguistic precision and expressive flexibility. Poets often vary the rhythm within their iambic lines to add interest, avoid monotony and preserve normal pronunciation.