IAMBIC PENTAMETER

IAMBIC PENTAMETERSounds BIG and SCA ry, BUT what DOES it

MEAN?

Syllables

• English words have clear syllables.

• We can usually divide words into syllables easily.

• We can also determine which syllables to emphasize, or “stress” in each word. For example:

• Angel = AN-gel (not an-GEL)

• Complete = com-PLETE (not COM-plete)

More Syllables• poem = PO-em…….(1 stressed + 1 unstressed)

• poetry = PO-e-try…….(1 stressed + 2 unstressed)

• relief = re-LIEF……. (1 unstressed + 1 stressed)

• recommend = re-com-MEND……. (2 unstressed + 1 stressed)

• discomfort = dis-COM-fort… (1 unstressed + 1 stressed + 1 unstressed)

• entertainment = en-ter-TAIN-ment (2 unstressed + 1 stressed + 1 unstressed)

Poetic Meter

• Meters are the rhythms within poems. • Meters are the arrangement of

stressedstressed/unstressed syllables to occur at apparently equal intervals.

• Metered verse has prescribed rules as to the number and placement of syllables used per line.

Poetic Foot

• A poetic footA poetic foot is a repeated sequence of rhythm comprised of two or more stressed and/or unstressed syllables.

• Poetic meterPoetic meter is comprised of poetic feetpoetic feet

Five main patterns to poetic feet:

1. Iambic2. Trochaic3. Anapestic4. Dactylic5. Spondaic

Combinations of Poetic Feet

• OneOne foot per line: monometer monometer • TwoTwo feet per line : dimeterdimeter • ThreeThree feet per line : trimetertrimeter• FourFour feet per line : tetrametertetrameter • FiveFive feet per line : pentameterpentameter • Six Six feet per line : hexameterhexameter

Type + Number = Meter

Types of Poetic Feet• Iambic (1 unstressed + 1 stressed)

• Trochaic (1 stressed + 1 unstressed)

• Anapestic (2 unstressed + 1 stressed)

• Dactylic (1 stressed + 2 unstressed)

• Spondaic (all syllables equal)

Number of feet per line

• Monometer• Dimeter• Trimeter• Tetrameter • Pentameter • Hexameter

Numerical Prefixes

• Monotone = • Divide = • TRIangle = • QUADrilateral =

•PENTAgon =• HEXAgon =

Trochaic PatternTrochaic Pattern• 1 stressed syllable1 stressed syllable followed by 1

unstressed syllable • EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

– garland (GAR-land)– speaking (SPEAK-ing)– value (VAL-ue)

Iambic Pentameter

• IAMB = metrical FOOT with one unstressed

syllable and a 2nd STRESSED syllable.• PENTA = FIVE!• Iambic Pentameter = Five, 2 syllable, feet (10

syllables in each line)

1 2 3

4 5Five Feet!

WHY did Shakespeare use iambic pentameter?

• To show emotion or importance

• It made it easier for the audience to follow the lines.

• It helped the actors to memorize their lines.

• It made sure that the actors emphasized the words Shakespeare wanted to emphasize.

Shakespeare was meant to be heard!

Living iambic pentameterDO!

Iambic Pentameter Practice

I NEED ten VOLunTEERS to COME up FRONT.

Macbeth 2.2.60-66Lady Macbeth:1. And wash this filthy witness from your hand2. Why did you bring these daggers from the place?3. They must lie there. Go carry them and smear4. The sleepy grooms with blood.Macbeth: I’ll go no more.5. I am afraid to think what I have done.

Five (PENTA) feet (IAMBS) = IAMBIC PENTAMETER!

• As YOU can SEE it’s NOT that HARD to LEARN.

• You CAN see it’s not THAT hard TO learn THIS.

• You CAN write JUST like SHAKE speare DID back THEN.

• Did YOU know THAT I’m WRITing LIKE that NOW?

• And IT gets EA si ER the MORE you TRY.

• I AMB ic PEN ta ME ter’s NOT that BAD!

You try!

• Write 3-5 lines in iambic pentameter about yourself – ON YOUR INDEX CARD!

• Write your name on your card to be collected, but DO NOT include your name IN the poem so we can guess who wrote it.

• As a card is read, you will try to guess who it is.

Who is it?

He COMES from CAnaDA, a POP sinGER.By SINGing ON youTUBE beCAME faMOUSDaTED DisNEY star SEleNA GoMEZ

Example:

My fav’rite animal’s the long necked giraffe.I come from Maui the valley isleI teach at Campbell High in the tenth grade.