IAMBIC PENTAMETER What is meter? Meter is a repeating pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables in lines of a set length.

There are many types of meter used in poetry. Iambic Pentameter is just one example of meter. Stressed VS. Unstressed Syllables. Whats the difference? When we speak, we place more emphasis or stress on certain parts or syllables of words. Therefore, a stressed syllable is a syllable that MORE emphasis or force is placed upon, whereas an unstressed syllable is a syllable that LESS emphasis is placed upon. Examples: for each word, the stressed syllable (or emphasis in the word) is capitalized. Try saying the words aloud and see where you are loudest or give the most emphasis. - TOtally - InDUstrial - ToMAto - FanTAstic What is Iambic Pentameter? Iambic pentameter is a meter found in poetry with 10 syllables in each line that follows a pattern of weak and strong (unstressed & stressed) syllables. It sounds like a heartbeat when you read it! da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM When is iambic pentameter used? - Iambic pentameter is purposefully used by poets as the meter of sonnets which creates a rhythm or flow to each line - When we read iambic pentameter, we can mark the unstressed and stressed syllables by writing a U (for unstressed) above the unstressed syllables and by writing a / (for stressed) above stressed syllables. See below! Examples of iambic pentameter: U / U / U / U / U / To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells U / U / U / U / U / Now is the winter of our discontent (NOTE: There can be one or more syllables in each word; the only requirement is that the 1st syllable is UNSTRESSED and the last is STRESSED)

U / U / U / U / U / If music be the food of love, play on Now, you try. For the following examples, write U above the stressed syllables and write / above the unstressed syllables for each line. Sound it out and/or clap! It helps to hear the rhythm.

1. Hello, my friend. What are you doing here? 2. Shall I compare thee to a summers day?

3. So, thanks to all at once and to each one

4. And I do love thee: therefore, go with me

(NOTE: Thee, thy, and thou are all old ways to say you)

5. I shall not cry, for you nor for your life

6. And in my dream I looked upon her there