Question

What is iambic pentameter?

Answer 1

Iambic pentameter originated from Shakespeare so I will use a part of a for an example.

When we were younger we learned how to find syllables, like clapping your hands while reading etc. that is basically the same thing you would apply to iambic pentameter

Iambic pentameter has a rhythm to it. Just imagine it, bum.. boom ... so now that you know that it has a rhythm and you need to know the syllables we can try an example

Line 1) When I do count the clock that tells the time,

[ When is one syllable so that would be our bum and I is one syllable so that would be our boom..so on and so forth(each boom and bum counts as one syllable]

Line 2) And see the brave day sunk in hid - eous night;

[bum] [boom] [bum] [boom] [bum] [boom] [bum] [boom] [bum] [boom]

(notice hideous is two syllables )

*******IMPORTANT: Iambic pentameter will ALWAYS have 10 syllables

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

a line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable, for example Two households, both alike in dignity.