Iambic Pentameter Study Guide

Question 1

Meter

Answer 1

A poem’s rhythm, its rise-and-fall, songlike cadence. There are two main aspects of meter:
The stressed and unstressed nature of the syllables.
The number of syllables in each line.

Question 2

Metrical Foot

Answer 2

A metrical foot is a repeated sequence of syllables that follow a particular pattern of stress

Question 3

Iamb

Answer 3

Two syllables; an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable

Question 4

Trochee

Answer 4

the opposite of Iamb: two syllables – a stressed followed by an unstressed syllable

Question 5

Spondee

Answer 5

two syllables - both stressed

Question 6

Dactyl

Answer 6

three syllables – one stressed, followed by two unstressed syllables

Question 7

Iambic Pentameter

Answer 7

Iambic, therefore, indicates the line of verse is built of iambs.
Pentameter means there are five iambs in each line. Five iambs (each with two syllables) equals ten syllables per line of iambic pentameter verse.
(Five iambs per line)

Question 8

Scansion (Diagramming Metrical Feet)

Answer 8

separate feet with a forward slash, mark the stress of each syllable with a small slash to indicate a stressed syllable and a small U to indicate an unstressed syllable.