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Information About

Iamb




In Accentual-syllabic Verse we could describe an iamb as a foot that goes like this:

Using the 'ictus and x' notation (see Systems Of Scansion for a full discussion of various notations) we can write this as:

The word 'attempt' is a natural iamb:

Iambic Pentameter is one of the most commonly used measures in English and German Poetry . A line of iambic pentameter comprises five consecutive iambs.

Iambic Trimeter is the metre of the spoken verses in Greek tragedy and comedy. In English accentual-syllabic verse, iambic trimeter is a line comprising three iambs.

The reverse of an iamb is called a Trochee .


EXAMPLES


:To strive, to '''seek''', to '''find''', and '''not''' to '''yield'''. ( Alfred Tennyson )

And:
:Shall I com'''pare''' thee '''to''' a '''sum'''mer's '''day'''? ( William Shakespeare )

Key:
  • Non-bold = unstressed syllable

  • Bold = stressed syllable