Question

What is iambic pentameter?


a) lines of poetry with a rhyme scheme of ABABABABAB

b) poetry that uses precise imagery and an irregular meter

c) poetry written in praise of a love’s beauty compared to nature

d) lines of poetry with a pattern of 10 unaccented and accented syllables

Answer 1

The answer is D.

An iamb is two syllables (one unaccented then one accented). Put five of them together ("penta" meaning five) and you get ten syllables per line.

Answer 2

The answer is D - each iamb is a 'de-dum', with the 'de' forming the unaccented syllable and the 'dum' forming the accented one. This is a highly rhythmic form favoured by Shakespeare among others, and is pleasing to the ear - there are five iambs in each line.

I hope this helps