Writing Focus: Iambic Pentameter

A poem’s flow can make or break it to a reader. If your syllables are unorganised and untidy, you’re more likely to lose readers than gain them, unless the poem still reads well! One way of keeping your poem’s structure tidy is through the use of iambic pentameter. By using this in your poems, you can keep a steady flow going throughout the narration.

What Is Iambic Pentameter?

Iambic pentameter is a measure of five iambs – an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable - that gives a poem a wonderfully simple flow. It gives the poem the essence of having a heartbeat as the iamb creates a “dah-DUM” feel to the sentences. A perfect example of iambic pentameter in poetry is the following extract from William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Notice how, in that line, the natural cadence of the piece is “da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM”. This is exactly how a line written in iambic pentameter should sound when spoken.

Tips

Much like anapaest, overstressing iambic pentameter in poetry can cause more problems than it’s worth. Keep it simple and try and write as naturally as possible. If you want your poem to read in iambic pentameter, keep that in mind, but get your main ideas down firstly and then think about the flow. There isn’t any point in trying to write in iambic pentameter if the subject matter doesn’t fit in!

Another interesting way of using iambic pentameter is to mix it up! You don’t always have to stick to strict rules, so get creative with it! Add in a stressed syllable where one shouldn’t, add in two unstressed syllables. It’s your poem after all!

Prompts

Looking to give iambic pentameter a try as a metre in your poem? Check out these prompts that can help you along the way!

1. Write a sonnet in the style of William Shakespeare, using iambic pentameter to structure individual lines.
2. Write a poem where the first line of every stanza is written in iambic pentameter.
3. Choose a popular poem that uses iambic pentameter and analyse those sections.

Poems

Once again, we’re going to delve into Mibba’s wonderful poem section to find some amazing poems! The following examples showcase iambic pentameter at its best.

Forgotten Stars is a sonnet modelled on Shakespeare’s own sonnet form. Notice how some of the lines follow that beautiful “da-DUM” rhythm and create an overall sense of easy reading.

Thoughtvines is another sonnet that really flows thanks to the iambic pentameter used throughout. Note how even from the first line, that rhythm is instantly set up and pulls the reader in.

Thinking about the more technical aspects of writing a poem can be boring and tedious, but iambic pentameter is a weapon that every aspiring poet should add to their arsenal. With it, you can create fantastic poems that simply flow off of the tongue!

Special thanks to Goddess_Of_Muse and the 1975 for editing!