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: Concept Overview:
The question requires a precise definition of "blank verse," a core poetic term.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Blank verse is defined by two key features: it doesn't rhyme and it uses a regular meter. In English, this is usually iambic pentameter (a line of five "feet," each with an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable). [14] } \\ \bullet & \text{Free verse is incorrect because it lacks both a consistent meter and rhyme scheme. } \\ \bullet & \text{Blank verse appears often in dramatic works (like Shakespeare), but it's a form, not a genre. Not all dramatic poetry uses blank verse. } \\ \bullet & \text{It's also suitable for reflective poetry (e.g., Wordsworth's Prelude), however that relates to content, not the form itself. } \\ \end{array}\]The most accurate definition: unrhymed verse written in iambic pentameter.

Step 3: Solution:
Option (C) correctly defines blank verse.