Iambic Pentameter Practice Quiz
Questions and Answers
- 1.
True or false: This line is written in iambic pentameter.For soon enough the woods, the hawk, and he
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
True -- for SOON | eNOUGH | the WOODS, | the HAWK, | and HERate this question:
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- 2.
True or false: This line is written in iambic pentameter.One must have a mind of winter
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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- 3.
True or false: This line is in iambic pentameter.who always has advice in these matters
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
False -- who AL | ways HAS | adVICE | in these | MATters
This line has five feet (ten syllables), but does not use the iambic stress pattern.Rate this question:
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- 4.
True or false: This is in iambic pentameter. Go and catch a falling star
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
False -- GO and | CATCH a | FALLing | STAR
This line has only seven syllables, not ten, and does not use the iambic stress pattern.Rate this question:
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- 5.
True or false: This is in iambic pentameter. I only know that summer sang in me
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
True -- i ON | ly KNOW | that SUM | mer SANG | in ME
This has ten syllables (five feet) in the iambic da-DUM stress pattern.Rate this question:
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- 6.
True or False: This is in iambic pentameter. But if they answered him, we haven't heard
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Yes -- but IF | they AN | swered HIM | we HAVE | n't HEARD
Five feet (ten syllables), following the iambic stress pattern.Rate this question:
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- 7.
True or false: This is in iambic pentameter. I have outwalked the furthest city light
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Yes -- i HAVE | outWALKED | the FURTH | est CI | ty LIGHT
Ten syllables (five feet) in the iambic da-DUM stress pattern.Rate this question:
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- 8.
True or false: This is in iambic pentameter. I know that I shall meet my fate
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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- 9.
True or false: This is iambic pentameter. Over the city the moon rides in mist
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Is this line in iambic pentameter? and time has thrown us free under the timeless moon
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
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-DUMRate this question:
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Current Version
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May 14, 2024Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
May 31, 2016Quiz Created by
Jennifer Kidd
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