What is an Alexandrine?
A line of poetry consisting of twelve syllables.
The Regal Rhythm: Understanding the Alexandrine Line in Poetry
The alexandrine line is a type of verse typically used in French poetry, consisting of twelve syllables in each line.
It is named after the medieval romance Alexandreis, written by the 12th-century French poet Alexander de Bernay, which popularized the use of the twelve-syllable line in French poetry.
In English poetry, the Alexandrine line has also been used, although less frequently compared to the French literature.
In terms of meter, the line is usually divided into two halves of six syllables each, with a caesura or pause in the middle. The rhythm of the line has been described as stately, regal, and grand, lending itself well to epic and dramatic poetry.
Notably, the alexandrine line was used extensively in the epic poems of the Middle Ages, such as The Divine Comedy by Dante, and Paradise Lost by John Milton.
Here are two examples of the use of the alexandrine line in literature:
Milton makes extensive use of alexandrines in his epic poem Paradise Lost, including in Book I, line 26: 'Of Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit / Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste / Brought Death into the World, and all our woe.'
Dante uses alexandrines in chapters throughout his epic poem The Divine Comedy, including in the fifth canto of Purgatorio: 'Poscia ch'io ebbi 'l mio dottore udito / nominar quell'anime benedette, / la voglia che sentiva fu' tant'ardito.'