Iambic Pentametre

8/12/2019 Iambic Pentametre

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Metre in PoetryMetre in Poetry

Poetry is metrical writing.Poetry is metrical writing.

If it isnt that I dont know what it is.If it isnt that I dont know what it is.

J.V. CunninghamJ.V. Cunningham


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Spoken English:Spoken English: StressStress

In English, we give words more orIn English, we give words more orless weight or psh as we speakless weight or psh as we speak

them in a sentence, i.e. wethem in a sentence, i.e. we stressstresscertain words !or parts of words":certain words !or parts of words":

EachEachEnEnglishglish wordwordisis giv

given itsen itsownown weightw

eightandand push

pushas weas wespeak

speakit withit withininaa sensentence.tence.


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#e slide over some words or sylla$les with#e slide over some words or sylla$les with

hardly a $reath or a pase while we givehardly a $reath or a pase while we give

others more weight.others more weight.

%ften, the words that are nstressed are%ften, the words that are nstressed are

monosylla$ic words sch asmonosylla$ic words sch as articlesarticles!the,!the,

an, a" andan, a" and conjunctionsconjunctions!or, and, $t":!or, and, $t":

&rom&romtimetimetototimetimeandandasaslongl

ongas itas ittakestakes


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'oing this means we natrally give'oing this means we natrally giveemphasis to more (important wordsemphasis to more (important words

!(time, (long, (takes"!(time, (long, (takes"

#hen we e)tend monosylla$ic#hen we e)tend monosylla$ic

words !e.g (hope * (hoping orwords !e.g (hope * (hoping or(+ick * (+ickly" we lightly skip over(+ick * (+ickly" we lightly skip overthe (ing and the (ly and stress thethe (ing and the (ly and stress themain part of the word:main part of the word: hop

hoping,ing,quic

quickly.kly.


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In polysylla$ic words !many sylla$les"In polysylla$ic words !many sylla$les"

there is always at least one stress:there is always at least one stress:

- CredCreditit

- 'is'ispose

pose- onontintinee

- 'e'espair

spair- DesDesperateperate


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E)ercise /E)ercise /

In pairs, write down fiveIn pairs, write down five

polysylla$ic words andpolysylla$ic words and

nderlinenderline

the sylla$les that yo stressthe sylla$les that yo stress

when yo speak them alodwhen yo speak them alod


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Sometimes the stress will change dependingSometimes the stress will change depending

on the meaning of the word.on the meaning of the word.

Read the following out loud:Read the following out loud:

0e proceeds to re$el0e proceeds to re$el

1he re$el steals the proceeds1he re$el steals the proceeds

Where are the stresses in each?Where are the stresses in each?


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0e pro0e proceedsceedsto reto rebelbel

1he1he rebrebel steals theel steals theproproceedsceeds


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Some words have two stresses, $tSome words have two stresses, $t

one will always $e a little heavierone will always $e a little heavier!the heavier one is in pink":!the heavier one is in pink":

-AbAbdidicatecate

-ononsidsidereratationion


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Sometimes these differences are a matter ofSometimes these differences are a matter of

nationality or preferencenationality or preference

#here wold yo place the stress in the#here wold yo place the stress in the

following:following:

- Chicken soupChicken soup

-Arm chairArm chair

- Sponge cakeSponge cake- CigaretteCigarette

- aga!ineaga!ine


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British EnglishBritish English American EnglishAmerican English

ChickChickenen soupsoup ChickChicken sopen sop

ArmArmchairchair ArmArmchairchair

SpongeSpongecakecake SpongeSpongecakecake

igarigaretteette CigCigarettearette

2aga2agazinezine MagMaga3inea3ine


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#hats this got to do with Shakespeare4#hats this got to do with Shakespeare4

1he patterns of stresses in a piece of writing1he patterns of stresses in a piece of writing

$ild p its rhythm or$ild p its rhythm or metremetre

In prose, we tend not to pay attention toIn prose, we tend not to pay attention towhere the stresses fall !nless were readingwhere the stresses fall !nless were reading

alod" as the rhythm is not sallyalod" as the rhythm is not sally

organisedorganisedIn poetry or Shakespeare, the rhythm isIn poetry or Shakespeare, the rhythm isorganised5organised5


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#e can all recognise rhythm in#e can all recognise rhythm in

msicmsicand tap or feet to it.and tap or feet to it.

In poetry, the metre is mch theIn poetry, the metre is mch thesame:same:

dadum! dadum! dadum! dadum! dadumdadum! dadum! dadum! dadum! dadum


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2sic teachers sometimes make2sic teachers sometimes make

stdents clap ot that rhythm like this:stdents clap ot that rhythm like this:

In poetry, each one of these dadmsIn poetry, each one of these dadms

Is called aIs called a footfoot

and one! and two! and three! and "our! and

"ive


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6 foot with6 foot withthe stressthe stresson theon thesecondsecond$eat$eat

dadaD#MD#M an iam$an iam$

6 foot with6 foot withthe stressthe stress

on theon the firstfirst$eat$eat

DADAdmdm 6 trochee6 trochee


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6 series of five feet has a steady, marching6 series of five feet has a steady, marching

rhythm when the stress is on the secondrhythm when the stress is on the second

$eat of each foot:$eat of each foot:

6 foot that is stressed on the second $eat6 foot that is stressed on the second $eat

like this is known as anlike this is known as an iambiamb

7erse that ses five of these in a row is7erse that ses five of these in a row isknown asknown as iambic pentameteriambic pentameter

dada'82'82, da, da'82'82, da, da'82'82, da, da'82'82, da, da'82'82


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6 line of iam$ic pentameter6 line of iam$ic pentameter

0e0e bangsbangsthethe drumdrumandand makesmakesaa dreaddreadflfl noisenoise


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E)ercise 9E)ercise 9

/. o will $e given a photocopied sheet of/. o will $e given a photocopied sheet of

coplets written in iam$ic pentameter.coplets written in iam$ic pentameter.

9. In pairs, read these alod and then9. In pairs, read these alod and then

nderline the stressed words or sylla$les tonderline the stressed words or sylla$les to

identify the metreidentify the metre

;.


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#hat did yo find4

#ere some easier than others4


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E)ercise ;E)ercise ;

Write "# lines of iam$ic pentameter followingWrite "# lines of iam$ic pentameter followingthese rules %e&amples on following slide':these rules %e&amples on following slide':

#rite some single lines and some coplets#rite some single lines and some coplets

'o not se rhyme'o not se rhyme#rite different types of lines: chatty, complicated,#rite different types of lines: chatty, complicated,

descriptive, silly, seriosdescriptive, silly, serios

#rite more and more +ickly as yo go on !a$ot ;=#rite more and more +ickly as yo go on !a$ot ;=seconds a line"seconds a line"

8se $oth monosylla$ic and polysylla$ic words8se $oth monosylla$ic and polysylla$ic words


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E$amples written by Stephen %ryE$amples written by Stephen %ry

I wonder why the postman hasnt come.I wonder why the postman hasnt come.

I looked at eight, Ill look again at nine.I looked at eight, Ill look again at nine.

1he crtains closed remind me of my death1he crtains closed remind me of my death

Ive $een and gone and done a stpid thingIve $een and gone and done a stpid thing

1heres nothing yo can do to ease my pain1heres nothing yo can do to ease my pain

o might indce e)cretion sing figso might indce e)cretion sing figs

or sharpness rips my paper heart in twoor sharpness rips my paper heart in two

I write the line and feel the metre flowI write the line and feel the metre flow


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>lank 7erse>lank 7erse

Shakespeare wrote inShakespeare wrote in &lank 'erse(&lank 'erse(

)n practice! this meant that his verse was usually)n practice! this meant that his verse was usually

unrhymed and consisted o" ten syllables to a line!unrhymed and consisted o" ten syllables to a line!spoken with a stress on every second syllable(spoken with a stress on every second syllable(

*he blank verse o" his early plays is quite*he blank verse o" his early plays is quite

di""erent "rom that o" his later ones( )t is o"tendi""erent "rom that o" his later ones( )t is o"tenbeauti"ul! but its sentences tend to start! pause!beauti"ul! but its sentences tend to start! pause!and "inish at the end o" lines! with the slight riskand "inish at the end o" lines! with the slight risko" monotony(o" monotony(


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Endstopping, En?am$ment and

aesra

I havent time to take yor call right now

1he woods decay, the woods decay andfall

1hese are endstopped lines.

1his is effective $t can $ecome dll overtime.


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En?am$ment

If yo cold hear, at every ?olt, the $lood

ome gargling from the frothcorrpted lngs.#ilfred %wen, 'lce et 'ecorm Est

1his is en?am$ment * a rn on line.

So threatened he, $t Satan to no threats@ave heed, $t wa)ing more in rage replied:

2ilton, Paradise Aost >ook I7


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aesra

So threatened he BB $t Satan to no threats

@ave heed BB $t wa)ing more in rage replied:

0is mother was a learned lady BB famed

&or every $ranch of every science known.

aesra * he says yore a fool


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#hy not end the line with the sense

and ignore the metre

If yo cold hear, at every ?olt,

the $lood come gargling from the frothcorrpted lngs.

If yo cold hear, at every ?olt, the $lood

ome gargling from the frothcorrpted lngs.


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Aeontes in 1he #inters 1ale

@o, play, $oy, play. 1here have $een,%r I am mch deceived, cckolds ere nowC

6nd many a man there is, even at this present,Dow while I speak this, holds his wife $y the arm,

1hat little thinks she has $een sliced ins a$sence6nd his pond fishd $y his ne)t neigh$or, $ySir Smile, his neigh$or: nay, theres comfort int#hiles other men have gates and those gates opend,

6s mine, against their will. Shold all despair1hat have revolted wives, the tenth of mankind#old hang themselves. Physic fort there is noneC


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Shall I compare thee to a smmers day4 1ho artmore lovely and more temperate. y chance, or natreschanging corse, ntrimmedC >t thy eternalsmmer shall not fade, Dor lose possession of that

fair tho owst, Dor shall death $rag tho wandrestin his shade, #hen in eternal lines to 1ime thogrowst. So long as men can $reathe, or eyes cansee, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.


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E)ercise F

- #rite three pairs of $lank !non rhyming"

iam$ic pentameter

- 1hen write three pairs where the meaning

is the same and in which there is

en?am$ment

- Each new pair mch have at least two

caesras


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#hat did yo write4

- E)amples p ;9.


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Strength G #eaknessStrength G #eakness

>ecase trochees end on an nstressed>ecase trochees end on an nstressed

sylla$le, it is sometimes said that theysylla$le, it is sometimes said that they

give a weaker ending to a line than iam$sgive a weaker ending to a line than iam$s

do $ecase they finish on a stress:do $ecase they finish on a stress:

*roch*rocheesees endendtheirtheir lineslinesinin weakweaknessness

IIamam$ic$ic lineslinesreresolvesolvewithwith strengthstrength


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Spondee and Pyrrhic

- &eet where $oth sylla$les are stressed

are called spondees.

- &eet where neither sylla$le is stressed are

pyrrhic


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/ foot/ foot 0e0e $angs$angs 2onometer2onometer9 feet9 feet 0is0is drmdrmmingming noisenoise 'imeter'imeter

; feet; feet 0is0is drmdrmmingming makesmakesaa noisenoise 1rimeter1rimeter

F feetF feet 0e0e $angs$angsaa drmdrmandand makesmakesaa noisenoise

1etrameter1etrameter

H feetH feet 0e0e $angs$angsthethe drmdrmandand

makesmakesaa dreaddreadflfl noisenoise

PentameterPentameter

feet feet 0e0e $angs$angsthethe drmdrmandandmakesmakesthethe mostmostapappallpallingingnoisenoise

0e)ameter0e)ameter

Some other metres


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1he 1empest

- If $y yor art, my dearest father, yo havePt the wild waters in this roar, allay them.1he sky, it seems, wold por down stinking pitch,>t that the sea, monting to the welkins cheek,'ashes the fire ot. %, I have sffered

#ith those that I saw sffer: a $rave vessel,#ho had, no do$t, some no$le creatre in her,'ashd all to pieces. %, the cry did knock6gainst my very heart. Poor sols, they perishd.0ad I $een any god of power, I wold0ave snk the sea within the earth or ere

It shold the good ship so have swallowd and1he fraghting sols within her.

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Iambic Pentametre