Iambic Pentameter
Shakespeare’s Style
Meter:
Meter is the regular pattern of stressed and
unstressed syllables.
It is usually dependent not only on the number of
syllables in a line but also on the way those
syllables are accented.
Meter
This rhythm is often described as a pattern of
stressed and unstressed syllables.
One fish
Two fish
Red fish
Blue fish
Scanning Syllables
Stressed syllable =
louder/more force
Unstressed syllable=
softer/ less force
Place the marks above the syllables they represent.
Stressed and Unstressed Syllables
A one syllable word is stressed.
A word with 2 or more syllables usually has one
stressed syllable.
Say your first or last name.
Which syllable is stressed?
Meter:
stressed and unstressed syllables
One fish
Two fish
Red fish
Blue fish
FOOT
In verse, syllables are divided into rhythmic units.
One rhythmic unit is often described as a foot; patterns of
feet can be identified and labeled.
(One fish)
(Two fish)
(Red fish)
(Blue fish)
4 FEET
Iambic Pentameter
An iamb is a foot with two syllables:
the first syllable is unstressed =
the second syllable is stressed.
(
)
Iamb = 2 syllables: 1st unstressed
2nd stressed
to day
Ju ly
suc cess
Iambic Meter
I do not like that Sam-I-am
Do you like green eggs and ham?
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
Iambic Pentameter:
Meter with 5 iambic feet
X X
X X X
X
X
X X
X
Start with 10 syllables.
Divide the line into feet with 2 syllables in each one.
Label the unstressed and stressed syllables.
Scan the lines below:
first - divide the syllables into feet
second - scan the stressed and unstressed syllables
What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other word would smell as sweet.
Iambic Pentameter
What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other word would smell as sweet.
Juliet, Act II, scene ii