Which metrical substitution involves reversing the stress of an iamb to a stressed-unstressed pattern, usually at the start of a line?
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Correct answer: Trochaic substitution
A trochaic substitution (a trochee) is often used at the beginning of a line of blank verse to provide a sharp, emphatic opening. This breaks the expected iambic 'da-DUM' rhythm to grab the audience's attention.
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More Blank Verse questions
- What is an 'end-stopped' line in Shakespearean verse?
- Which of the following is a 'shared line' in Shakespearean drama?
- What is the purpose of 'scansion' in the study of Shakespearean verse?
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