Question

Which of the following is the most appropriate statement about a 'heroic couplet'?

• A. A meter that celebrates heroism
• B. A rhyming pair of verse lines in iambic pentameter
• C. A meter used in tragedy
• D. A four-line stanza with end rhyme.

Hint:

To remember the definition, deconstruct the name: Couplet = two lines that rhyme. Heroic = iambic pentameter (the 'heroic' line of English). So, two rhyming lines of iambic pentameter.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the precise definition of a 'heroic couplet', a significant form in English poetry.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's break down the term 'heroic couplet':
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Couplet: This refers to a pair of successive lines of verse, which usually rhyme and have the same meter.} \\ \bullet & \text{Heroic: In the context of English verse, this refers to the use of iambic pentameter, the meter traditionally used for epic or 'heroic' poetry.} \\ \end{array}\] Combining these, a heroic couplet is a rhyming pair of verse lines in iambic pentameter. This form was famously used by Geoffrey Chaucer and perfected by poets like John Dryden and Alexander Pope in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Let's analyze the other options:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) is incorrect because it describes content, not form. While used in heroic poems, the couplet itself is a structural unit.} \\ \bullet & \text{(C) is incorrect. The dominant meter for English tragedy (e.g., Shakespeare) is blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), not heroic couplets.} \\ \bullet & \text{(D) describes a quatrain, not a couplet.} \\ \end{array}\]

Step 3: Final Answer:
The most appropriate statement is (B).