IAMBIC PENTAMETER
HOW TO DO IT 

Iambic Pentameter has 10 syllables.
 5 unstressed, 5 stressed

“This holy shrine the gentle sin is this”

This ho ly shrine the gen tle sin is this

1 iambic foot
You must have 5 of these for it to be iambic
PENTameter
“Whose woods these are I think I know”
 While
1
this follows the correct rhythm…
2
3
4
Whose woods these are I think I know
 It’s
not iambic PENTameter because there are
only 4 iambic feet
Beat out the following to see if they
are iambic pentameter or not!
 Good
pilgrim you do wrong your hand too
much
I
strike quickly being moved
 Hark
ye, your Romeo will be here at night
Beat these out and tell whether
they are iambic pentameter or not
 Or
else beshrew them both
I
say silver sound because musicians
sound for silver
 Oh
pardon me for bringing these ill news
 Oh,
teach me how I should forget to think
ANSWERS

Good pilgrim you do wrong your hand too much (YES)

I strike quickly being moved (NO)

Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night (YES)

Or else beshrew them both (NO)

I say silver sound because musicians sound for silver (NO)

Oh pardon me for bringing these ill news (YES)

Oh, teach me how I should forget to think (YES)