Iambic Pentameter Practice Quiz

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| By Jennifer Kidd
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Jennifer Kidd
Community Contributor
Quizzes Created: 2 | Total Attempts: 13,670
| Attempts: 766
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  • 1/10 Questions

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

    • True
    • False
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Iambic Pentameter Practice Quiz - Quiz
About This Quiz

This quiz tests understanding of iambic pentameter, a common metric line in poetry. Participants assess true or false statements about specific lines, enhancing their ability to analyze poetic forms and improving literary comprehension.

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  • 2. 

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

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    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.

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  • 3. 

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

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    False -- GO and | CATCH a | FALLing | STAR

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

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  • 4. 

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

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    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.

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  • 5. 

    True or false: This is in iambic pentameter.  I know that I shall meet my fate

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    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.

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  • 6. 

    Is this line in iambic pentameter?    and time has thrown us free under the timeless moon

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    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

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  • 7. 

    True or False: This is in iambic pentameter.  But if they answered him, we haven't heard

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Yes -- but IF | they AN | swered HIM | we HAVE | n't HEARD

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

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  • 8. 

    True or false: This is in iambic pentameter.  I have outwalked the furthest city light

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Yes -- i HAVE | outWALKED | the FURTH | est CI | ty LIGHT

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

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  • 9. 

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

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    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.

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  • 10. 

    True or false: This is iambic pentameter.  Over the city the moon rides in mist

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    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.

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Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): May 14, 2024 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • May 14, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • May 31, 2016
    Quiz Created by
    Jennifer Kidd
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