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

Start with 10 syllables.Divide the line into feet with 2 syllables in each one.Label the unstressed and stressed syllables.

X X X X X X X X X X

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