Decasyllabic verse
A ten-syllable verse line whose internal divisions depend on the poetic tradition.
Decasyllabic verse consists of ten-syllable lines. French traditions often use a division after the fourth syllable, followed by six more, though other arrangements occur.
Syllable count alone does not describe the rhythm. Stress and pauses matter too. A ten-syllable English line is not automatically iambic pentameter, which also involves an accentual pattern.
Example
French example: Le vent du soir emporte nos secrets. The traditional count includes the final e of emporte before nos.
In the workshop
Mark the intended pause and check syllable rules before changing words.
Related terms
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