Understanding Poetry and Meter

Front

What is iambic pentameter?

Back

A metrical pattern in poetry consisting of five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line.

Front

Identify an example of iambic pentameter.

Back

"Rough Winds do shake the darling buds of May" is an example of iambic pentameter.

Front

What is a spondee?

Back

A metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables.

Front

Identify examples of spondees.

Back

childhood (CHILD-HOOD), heyday (HEY-DEY), bookmark (BOOK-MARK), headache (HEAD-ACHE) are examples of spondees.

Front

What is a syllable?

Back

A unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants.

Front

What is a dactyl?

Back

A metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.

Front

Identify examples of dactyls.

Back

bicycle (BI-cy-cle), typical (TY-pi-cal), elephant (E-le-phant), poetry (PO-e-try) are examples of dactyls.

Front

What is trochaic tetrameter?

Back

A metrical pattern consisting of four trochees (a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable) per line.

Front

Identify an example of trochaic tetrameter.

Back

"Double double toil and trouble" is an example of trochaic tetrameter.

Front

What is a trochee?

Back

A metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.