Question

Blank verse is:

• A. Dramatic poetry
• B. Free verse
• C. Unrhymed verse primarily in iambic pentameter
• D. Reflective poetry of any length

Hint:

To distinguish between similar terms: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Blank Verse: Meter (iambic pentameter), NO rhyme. (e.g., Shakespeare)} \\ \bullet & \text{Free Verse: NO meter, NO rhyme. (e.g., Walt Whitman)} \\ \bullet & \text{Heroic Couplet: Meter (iambic pentameter), AND rhyme (rhyming pairs). (e.g., Alexander Pope)} \\ \end{array}\]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the precise definition of "blank verse," a fundamental term in poetry.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Blank verse is defined by two key characteristics: it is unrhymed and it has a regular meter, which in English poetry is typically iambic pentameter (a line of five feet, each with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). [14] } \\ \bullet & \text{Free verse is incorrect because it lacks a consistent meter and rhyme scheme. } \\ \bullet & \text{While blank verse is often used in dramatic poetry (e.g., in Shakespeare's plays), it is a form, not a genre. Not all dramatic poetry is in blank verse. } \\ \bullet & \text{Similarly, it can be used for reflective poetry (e.g., Wordsworth's The Prelude), but this describes the content, not the poetic form itself. } \\ \end{array}\] The most accurate and complete definition is that it is unrhymed verse in iambic pentameter.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Option (C) provides the correct definition of blank verse.