Blank Verse

What is it about?

Blank verse is unrhymed iambic pentameter. This chapter defines blank verse, describes its history and development, and how to write it, with examples.

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Why is it important?

Many people think blank verse is free verse; or if they know it's iambic pentameter, they think it is almost any line of poetry that has ten syllables. But blank verse, so essential to some of the greatest works of poetic literature (including the sonnet, and Shakespeare's plays) is more flexible than people generally realise. This chapter will give you a better understanding and appreciation of blank verse, for both reading and writing it.