Shakespeare And Blank Verse
Please take this quiz after reading the introduction about Shakespeare's language and the handout on blank verse. You will have five minutes to complete it.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
How many syllables are usually in a line of blank verse?
- A.
5
- B.
8
- C.
10
- D.
12
Correct Answer
C. 10Explanation
Blank verse is a form of poetry that does not rhyme but follows a specific meter, usually iambic pentameter. In iambic pentameter, each line consists of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables, totaling ten syllables. Therefore, a line of blank verse typically contains ten syllables.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Blank verse is made up of ___ iams, a specific kind of metric foot.
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
4
- D.
5
Correct Answer
D. 5Explanation
Blank verse is a form of poetry that does not rhyme but follows a specific meter. The meter used in blank verse is iambic pentameter, which consists of five iambs. An iamb is a two-syllable foot with the stress on the second syllable. Therefore, the correct answer is 5, as blank verse is made up of five iambs per line.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Blank verse is end-rhymed.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Blank verse is a form of poetry that does not have end rhymes. It consists of unrhymed lines with a specific meter, usually iambic pentameter. The lack of end rhymes in blank verse allows for a more natural and conversational tone in the poetry.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Which of the following words/phrases would be scanned as an iam?
- A.
Thunder
- B.
Bamboo
- C.
Stop it!
- D.
Sincerely
Correct Answer
B. BambooExplanation
The word "Bamboo" would be scanned as an iam because it contains the letters "iam" in that order.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Caesura is a term that denotes an audible pause in a line of verse. Which of the following lines contains an example of caesura?
- A.
Holy Cow! What are you doing?
- B.
These are the times that try men's souls.
- C.
I cannot tell a lie.
- D.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall.
Correct Answer
A. Holy Cow! What are you doing?Explanation
The line "Holy Cow! What are you doing?" contains an example of caesura because there is a clear audible pause after the word "Cow" before the speaker continues with "What are you doing?"Rate this question:
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