Bridges' Analysis of Paradise Lost - Lines Where The Number of Stresses Is Not Five

Lines Where The Number of Stresses Is Not Five

Bridges cites examples of four-stress and three-stress lines. He also states that there can never be more than five stresses in a line, refuting the example

Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs, Dens and Shades of Death (P.L., II.621)

Read more about this topic:  Bridges' Analysis Of Paradise Lost

Famous quotes containing the words lines, number and/or stresses:

    We stand in the tumult of a festival.
    What festival? This loud, disordered mooch?
    These hospitaliers? These brute-like guests?
    These musicians dubbing at a tragedy,
    A-dub, a-dub, which is made up of this:
    That there are no lines to speak? There is no play.
    Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)

    After mature deliberation of counsel, the good Queen to establish a rule and imitable example unto all posterity, for the moderation and required modesty in a lawful marriage, ordained the number of six times a day as a lawful, necessary and competent limit.
    Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)

    The goal in raising one’s child is to enable him, first, to discover who he wants to be, and then to become a person who can be satisfied with himself and his way of life. Eventually he ought to be able to do in his life whatever seems important, desirable, and worthwhile to him to do; to develop relations with other people that are constructive, satisfying, mutually enriching; and to bear up well under the stresses and hardships he will unavoidably encounter during his life.
    Bruno Bettelheim (20th century)