Iambic pentameter is a type of metric line used in traditional English poetry and verse drama. The term describes the rhythm, or meter, established by the words in that line; rhythm is measured in small groups of syllables called "feet".

What is iambic pentameter example?

Iambic pentameter is one of the most commonly used meters in English poetry. For instance, in the excerpt, “When I see birches bend to left and right/Across the line of straighter darker Trees…” (Birches, by Robert Frost), each line contains five feet, and each foot uses one iamb.

How do you explain iambic pentameter?

Iambic Pentameter describes the construction of a line of poetry with five sets of unstressed syllables followed by stressed syllables. To understand what this means, let's break down what happens in a line of poetry. When we read poetry, a group of two or three syllables is called a foot.