6. IAMBIC PENTAMETER (Chicago Shakes P.35-6) Much of Shakespeare’s verse is written in iambic pentameter, or ten-syllable lines with alternating unstressed and stressed syllables. The ten unstressed/stressed beats mirror the cadence of the English language. Say these everyday sentences out loud and listen for the iambic pentameter rhythm: I’m hungry and I want my dinner now.!The weather’s gorgeous and I have to go outside. I really want to see my friends tonight. www.chicagoshakes.com Now take a look at a passage from the play. In Act 2, scene 1, Titania says to Oberon: TITANIA These are the forgeries of jealousy ,!And never since the middle summer’s spring Met we on hill, in dale, forest or mead,! By paved fountain or by rushy brook,! Or in the beached margent of the sea! To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. Read these lines aloud, trying to overemphasize the meter. If you’re having trouble, look at the example below, in which the meter is stressed: TITANIA These ARE the FORgerIES of JEAlouSY,! And NEver SINCE the MIDdle SUMmer’s SPRING Met WE on HILL, in DALE, forEST or MEAD, !By PAVed FOUNTain OR by RUSHy BROOK,! Or IN the BEACHed MARgent OF the SEA! To DANCE our RINGlets TO the WHISTling WIND. Say the passage above aloud and exaggerate the stress. Try tapping the rhythm out on your knee at the same time to feel the rhythm. Once you have the hang of the meter, experiment with writing a few of your own lines in iambic pentameter. Write your favorite children’s story or nursery rhyme in ten lines, all in iambic pentameter. Use your new tools—exaggera- tion when speaking and tapping—to make sure you keep the meter. Share your verse-tale with the class. “It may be harder than it seems to be...” Guiding Questions: • Can you come up with an everyday sentence in English in iambic pentameter? !• What is the effect in reversing the stressed and unstressed meter?! •Do you think iambic pentameter would work well with a different language you are studying or one that you speak at home?! CONSIDER COMMON CORE ANCHOR STANDARDS R1, R5, W3 .