Transcript Iambic Pentameter

Iambic Pentameter
Iambic pentameter defined

Iambic= one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed
syllable

Pentameter= 10 syllables per line
Almost all of Romeo and Juliet is written in blank verse
(no rhyming words) using Iambic Pentameter
It is very difficult to structure thoughts using this style of
poetry
This may explain why some of Shakespeare’s phrasings
may seem odd to the reader



Stressed and Unstressed syllables


ﬞ ﬞ = unstressed
/ = stressed
Iambic words

The following are examples of iambic words










What does Iambic mean again?
Verbose
Become
Baboon
Advance
Buffoon
Cocoon
Bamboo
Write these words down and chart them using ﬞ and /
Now, come up with a word from your current surroundings
that is iambic in form
Answers



For each of the iambic words you should
have placed an “ ﬞ ” on top of the
unstressed syllable (the first syllable) and a
“/” on top of the stressed syllable
EX:
ﬞ
/
Verbose
Iambic Pentameter phrases



weakSTRONGweakSTRONGweakSTRON
GweakSTRONGweakSTRONG
I am I am I am I am I am
ﬞ /
ﬞ
/
ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ
/
I am a pirate with a wooden leg
Try charting these…
ﬞ

/ ﬞ / ﬞ /
ﬞ /
ﬞ
/
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
= 10 syllables
ﬞ

/
ﬞ /
ﬞ
/
ﬞ
/
ﬞ
/
But soft: what light through yonder window breaks?
= 10 syllables
What is the opposite of iambic?



Trochaic
Trochaic words start with a stressed
syllable and end with an unstressed
syllable
You can have trochaic words in iambic
pentameter
Examples of trochaic words








Pirate
Answer
Tuesday
Angel
Married
Golden
Flashing
Now… think of a trochaic word around you.
Prologue


First of all, what is a prologue?
A prologue is an introductory speech which
tells what will happen in the upcoming
piece of literature and it also may highlight
some themes from the piece as well.
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
O for a Muse of fire that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention;
But pardon, gentles all,
The flat unraised spirits that hath dared
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great a story. Can this cockpit hold
The vastly fields of nursery tales? Or may we cram
Within this wooden O the very tales
That did fill childish ears at bedtime?
Let us on your imaginary forces work
Pierce out our imperfections with your thought.
For your humble patience do we pray
Gently to hear, kindly to judge our play.