1. Iambic Pentameter

2. Iambic pentameter defined Iambic= one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable Pentameter= 10 syllables per line Almost all of Romeo and Juliet is written in blank verse (no rhyming words) using Iambic Pentameter It is very difficult to structure thoughts using this style of poetry This may explain why some of Shakespeare’s phrasings may seem odd to the reader

3. Stressed and Unstressed syllables ﬞﬞ = unstressed / = stressed

4. Iambic words The following are examples of iambic words What does Iambic mean again? Verbose Become Baboon Advance Buffoon Cocoon Bamboo Write these words down and chart them using ﬞ and / Now, come up with a word from your current surroundings that is iambic in form

5. Answers For each of the iambic words you should have placed an “ ﬞ ” on top of the unstressed syllable (the first syllable) and a “/” on top of the stressed syllable EX: ﬞ / Verbose

6. Iambic Pentameter phrases weakSTRONGweakSTRONGweakSTRON GweakSTRONGweakSTRONG I am I am I am I am I am ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / I am a pirate with a wooden leg

7. Try charting these… ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / So foul and fair a day I have not seen. = 10 syllables ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / ﬞ / But soft: what light through yonder window breaks? = 10 syllables

8. What is the opposite of iambic? Trochaic Trochaic words start with a stressed syllable and end with an unstressed syllable You can have trochaic words in iambic pentameter

9. Examples of trochaic words Pirate Answer Tuesday Angel Married Golden Flashing Now… think of a trochaic word around you.

10. Prologue First of all, what is a prologue? A prologue is an introductory speech which tells what will happen in the upcoming piece of literature and it also may highlight some themes from the piece as well.

11. “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” O for a Muse of fire that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention; But pardon, gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that hath dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great a story. Can this cockpit hold The vastly fields of nursery tales? Or may we cram Within this wooden O the very tales That did fill childish ears at bedtime? Let us on your imaginary forces work Pierce out our imperfections with your thought. For your humble patience do we pray Gently to hear, kindly to judge our play.