Blank verse is a type of poetry characterized by unrhymed lines written in a regular meter, almost always iambic pentameter. This means each line typically has ten syllables arranged in five pairs (called iambs), where each pair consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, mimicking a natural rhythm similar to a heartbeat (buh-BUM, buh-BUM)
. Unlike rhymed poetry, blank verse does not use end rhymes, but it maintains a consistent metrical pattern, making it distinct from free verse, which has neither rhyme nor regular meter
. Blank verse has been widely used in English dramatic and epic poetry since the 16th century, famously by playwrights like William Shakespeare and poets like John Milton, whose Paradise Lost is a landmark example of blank verse
. In summary, blank verse is unrhymed poetry written in a steady meter, typically iambic pentameter, making it a foundational form in English literature for both drama and narrative poetry
