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What is a heroic couplet?

a) fourteen unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter
b) two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter
c) two lines that do not rhyme
d) fourteen rhymed lines of iambic pentameter

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A heroic couplet is two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter, used traditionally in epic and narrative poetry to express elevated thoughts with a rhythmic and grandiose style.

Step-by-step explanation:

A heroic couplet is (b) two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter. It is a traditional form of English poetry often used in epic and narrative poetry. The term "heroic" is because these couplets often express grandiose or elevated thoughts and have a pronounced rhythm, making them suitable for the portrayal of heroic deeds. Each line of a heroic couplet consists of ten syllables, or five 'feet', with the pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (“da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM”). This pattern is known as iambic pentameter. An example of a heroic couplet can be found in Alexander Pope's “Essay on Criticism,” which utilizes the couplet rhyme scheme.

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