Iambic pentameter is a type of poetic meter commonly used in traditional English poetry and verse drama. It consists of a line of verse with ten syllables arranged in five pairs of metrical feet called iambs. Each iamb is made up of two syllables: the first is unstressed and the second is stressed, creating a da-DUM rhythm. Thus, a line of iambic pentameter has five iambs, or five sets of unstressed-stressed syllables, totaling ten syllables per line
. The term breaks down as follows:
- Iambic : relating to the iamb, a metrical foot with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., a-BOVE).
- Pentameter : meaning a line of verse with five metrical feet (from Greek "pente" meaning five)
This meter is the most common in English poetry and was introduced into English by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, influenced by French and Italian models. It has been widely used by major poets such as William Shakespeare, John Milton, and William Wordsworth
. Iambic pentameter lines often sound like a heartbeat rhythm (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM), which contributes to the natural flow and musicality of English verse. Shakespeare famously used this meter in his sonnets and plays, making it a hallmark of English literary tradition
. In summary, iambic pentameter is a rhythmic poetic line of ten syllables, arranged as five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables, creating a flowing and structured meter widely used in English literature.
