--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: BLANK-VERSE, n. Unrhymed iambic…" description: "\"BLANK-VERSE, n. Unrhymed iambic pentameters - the most difficult kind of English verse to write acceptably; a kind, therefore, much affected by those w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/ambrose-bierce-140_affected_blank-verse-n-unrhymed-iambic-pentameter_1662039.jpg" --- # BLANK-VERSE, n. Unrhymed iambic pentameters - the most… ![“BLANK-VERSE, n. Unrhymed iambic pentameters - the most difficult kind of English verse to write acceptably; a kind, therefore, much affected by those who cannot acceptably write any kind.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/ambrose-bierce-140_affected_blank-verse-n-unrhymed-iambic-pentameter_1662039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/ambrose-bierce-140_affected_blank-verse-n-unrhymed-iambic-pentameter_1662039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/ambrose-bierce-140_affected_blank-verse-n-unrhymed-iambic-pentameter_1662039.jpg) > “BLANK-VERSE, n. Unrhymed iambic pentameters - the most difficult kind of English verse to write acceptably; a kind, therefore, much affected by those who cannot acceptably write any kind.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blank-verse is an unrhymed iambic pentameter, difficult to write well, often attempted by those who cannot write any verse. **In simple terms:** Blank-verse is tough; many try it without skill. Key Takeaway Practice meter and rhythm before attempting blank-verse. Themes poetry form meter challenge literary criticism Mood frustrated curious analytical Type educational critical When to use this quote - creative writing classes - poetry workshops - self‑editing - literary analysis Key Concepts iambic pentameter unrhymed verse writing difficulty Questions to Reflect On - What makes blank-verse challenging? - How can you improve iambic pentameter skill? A Different Perspective May discourage beginners from experimenting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected/) [Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) [Blank Verse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-verse-768873/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Iambic Pentameters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iambic-pentameters-768875/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Verse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verse/) [Verse Unrhymed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verse-unrhymed-768874/) [Verse Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verse-write-768876/) [Verses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I write a lot of children's verse and I think it delights in the language. It pleases people. It's very musical. It's very lyrical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-hoberman/i-write-a-lot-of-children-s-verse-and-i-think-it-delights-in-the/) [Mary Ann Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-hoberman/) > [Marriage is not for me. I tell you that I am Blank Verse. I am talent, and I do not rhyme with Love. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-hallowell-abbott/marriage-is-not-for-me-i-tell-you-that-i-am-blank-verse-i-am-talent/) [Eleanor Hallowell Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-hallowell-abbott/) > [The fact that something is in a rhymed form or in blank verse will not make it good poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-fact-that-something-is-in-a-rhymed-form-or-in-blank-verse-will/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [The iambic pentameter owes its pre-eminence in English poetry to its genius for variation. Good blank verse does not sound like a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/the-iambic-pentameter-owes-its-pre-eminence-in-english-poetry-to-its/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [“I even, to my own amusement if no one else's, developed the knack of cursing in iambic pentameters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-palmer/i-even-to-my-own-amusement-if-no-one-else-s-developed-the-knack-of/) [Philip Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-palmer/) > [ELEGY, n. A composition in verse, in which, without employing any of the methods of humor, the writer aims to produce in the reader's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/elegy-n-a-composition-in-verse-in-which-without-employing-any-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I can scarce bring myself to believe, that I am admitted to a familiar correspondence, and all the license of friendship, with a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/i-can-scarce-bring-myself-to-believe-that-i-am-admitted-to-a-familiar/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [The Almeida's artistic director, Rupert Goold, brought me Mike Bartlett's 'King Charles III' with the slightly apologetic warning that it was in blank verse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/the-almeida-s-artistic-director-rupert-goold-brought-me-mike-bartlett/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I think everything should be in verse. 'The New York Times' should be in verse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ives/i-think-everything-should-be-in-verse-the-new-york-times-should-be-in/) [David Ives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ives/) > [I then carefully searched through the pages until I was able to find the verse that was crystal clear... It read: "Rejoice always."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-neal/i-then-carefully-searched-through-the-pages-until-i-was-able-to-find/) [Mary C. Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-neal/) > [No more pronouncements on lousy verse. No more hidden competition. No more struggling not to be a square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/no-more-pronouncements-on-lousy-verse-no-more-hidden-competition-no/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [Writing fiction, for me, is a more indirect form of self-exploration than writing verse. When I'm working on a novel I'm moving characters around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/writing-fiction-for-me-is-a-more-indirect-form-of-self-exploration/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [Let's be off before he gets his great horsey teeth into my poor lines of verse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/let-s-be-off-before-he-gets-his-great-horsey-teeth-into-my-poor-lines/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [I ought to warn you that my verse is of no interest to people who can think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-betjeman/i-ought-to-warn-you-that-my-verse-is-of-no-interest-to-people-who-can/) [John Betjeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-betjeman/) > [Anyone may be an honorable man, and yet write verse badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/anyone-may-be-an-honorable-man-and-yet-write-verse-badly/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Affected quotes > [To tell you the truth I am hard put to think of anyone who's career was affected significantly by making all those phone calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-anyone-who-s-career/) [Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/) > [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Every culture, if its natural development is not too much affected by political restrictions, experiences a perpetual renewal of the formative urge, and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/every-culture-if-its-natural-development-is-not-too-much-affected-by/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [Don't show them that you are affected.. Instead, show them that you are happy even without them.. To put a sad face on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/don-t-show-them-that-you-are-affected-instead-show-them-that-you-are/) [Sharlene05](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlene05/) > [I wish we could go back to the time when the private lives of our public figures were relevant only if they directly affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-wish-we-could-go-back-to-the-time-when-the-private-lives-of-our/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Don't be intimidated by people who seem to be experts. Hear their points of view and get their judgements. But at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/don-t-be-intimidated-by-people-who-seem-to-be-experts-hear-their/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Who what am I? 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