Iambic Pentameter Practice Quiz

1. True or false: This line is written in iambic pentameter.For soon enough the woods, the hawk, and he

True

False

True -- for SOON | eNOUGH | the WOODS, | the HAWK, | and HE

Explanation

True -- for SOON | eNOUGH | the WOODS, | the HAWK, | and HE

2. True or false: This line is written in iambic pentameter.
One must have a mind of winter

True

False

False -- ONE must | HAVE a | MIND of | WINter

This line has four feet, and uses a DUM-da stress pattern instead of the iambic da-DUM.

Explanation

False -- ONE must | HAVE a | MIND of | WINter

This line has four feet, and uses a DUM-da stress pattern instead of the iambic da-DUM.

3. True or false: This is in iambic pentameter.
Go and catch a falling star

True

False

False -- GO and | CATCH a | FALLing | STAR

This line has only seven syllables, not ten, and does not use the iambic stress pattern.

Explanation

False -- GO and | CATCH a | FALLing | STAR

This line has only seven syllables, not ten, and does not use the iambic stress pattern.

4. True or false: This is in iambic pentameter.
I only know that summer sang in me

True

False

True -- i ON | ly KNOW | that SUM | mer SANG | in ME

This has ten syllables (five feet) in the iambic da-DUM stress pattern.

Explanation

True -- i ON | ly KNOW | that SUM | mer SANG | in ME

This has ten syllables (five feet) in the iambic da-DUM stress pattern.

5. True or false: This is in iambic pentameter.

I know that I shall meet my fate

True

False

False -- i KNOW | that I | shall MEET | my FATE

This is a tricky one. It's in the iambic stress pattern -- da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM. But there are only eight syllables -- four feet -- instead of five. So it's called iambic tetrameter (four feet), not pentameter.

Explanation

False -- i KNOW | that I | shall MEET | my FATE

This is a tricky one. It's in the iambic stress pattern -- da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM. But there are only eight syllables -- four feet -- instead of five. So it's called iambic tetrameter (four feet), not pentameter.

6. Is this line in iambic pentameter?

and time has thrown us free under the timeless moon

True

False

Iambic pentameter is a metric line used in traditional English poetry and drama, characterized by having ten syllables in each line, where the syllables typically alternate between unstressed and stressed. The pattern generally appears as da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM.

The line provided, "and time has thrown us free under the timeless moon," can be scanned for stress patterns to determine if it follows this rhythm:

and time (and is usually unstressed, time is stressed) - da-DUM

has thrown (has is unstressed, thrown is stressed) - da-DUM

us free (us is unstressed, free is stressed) - da-DUM

under the (under is stressed, the is unstressed but might be variably stressed) - DUM-da

timeless moon (timeless is stressed, moon is stressed, breaking the pattern) - DUM-DUM

Explanation

Iambic pentameter is a metric line used in traditional English poetry and drama, characterized by having ten syllables in each line, where the syllables typically alternate between unstressed and stressed. The pattern generally appears as da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM.

The line provided, "and time has thrown us free under the timeless moon," can be scanned for stress patterns to determine if it follows this rhythm:

and time (and is usually unstressed, time is stressed) - da-DUM

has thrown (has is unstressed, thrown is stressed) - da-DUM

us free (us is unstressed, free is stressed) - da-DUM

under the (under is stressed, the is unstressed but might be variably stressed) - DUM-da

timeless moon (timeless is stressed, moon is stressed, breaking the pattern) - DUM-DUM

7. True or False: This is in iambic pentameter.

But if they answered him, we haven't heard

True

False

Yes -- but IF | they AN | swered HIM | we HAVE | n't HEARD

Five feet (ten syllables), following the iambic stress pattern.

Explanation

Yes -- but IF | they AN | swered HIM | we HAVE | n't HEARD

Five feet (ten syllables), following the iambic stress pattern.

8. True or false: This is in iambic pentameter.

I have outwalked the furthest city light

True

False

Yes -- i HAVE | outWALKED | the FURTH | est CI | ty LIGHT

Ten syllables (five feet) in the iambic da-DUM stress pattern.

Explanation

Yes -- i HAVE | outWALKED | the FURTH | est CI | ty LIGHT

Ten syllables (five feet) in the iambic da-DUM stress pattern.

9. True or false: This line is in iambic pentameter.
who always has advice in these matters

True

False

False -- who AL | ways HAS | adVICE | in these | MATters

This line has five feet (ten syllables), but does not use the iambic stress pattern.

Explanation

False -- who AL | ways HAS | adVICE | in these | MATters

This line has five feet (ten syllables), but does not use the iambic stress pattern.

10. True or false: This is iambic pentameter.

Over the city the moon rides in mist

True

False

No -- OV-er the CI-ty the MOON rides in MIST

This has ten syllables, but it's in a different stress pattern: DUM da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM.

Explanation

No -- OV-er the CI-ty the MOON rides in MIST

This has ten syllables, but it's in a different stress pattern: DUM da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM.