Binary feet may have any combination of syllables: strong and strong, like ‘ apex‘, or strong and weak, like a ‘ lantern‘.Ī binary foot that follows the pattern of weak and strong syllables is called an iamb, like ‘ above‘, ‘ attempt‘, ‘ in love‘. Strong syllables are called stressed syllables and weak syllables are called unstressed syllables. Notice how you have to put more effort into saying straw? But berry rolls off your tongue easily! Thus, straw is the stronger syllable.

When we say a word with two syllables, one syllable is usually stronger than the others. Similarly, a ternary foot has three syllables, like elephant. Binary feet can contain two words, like my dog. It may contain multiple words.Ī foot with two syllables is named a binary foot. A foot normally has two or three syllables. A metrical foot is a group of syllables that repeats in a verse. Poems are made of simple beats called feet. Iambic Pentameter is a line of verse with 5 metrical feet, that consists of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable. Let’s learn what it means! Iambic Pentameter Definition One of the most common rhythm patterns is called iambic pentameter. There are many ways to create rhythms in a verse. Do you sometimes hear a song and feel like clapping along? Then you’re following the song’s rhythm!Ī single line in a poem is called a verse. In poems, combinations of syllables are used to create rhythms.Ī rhythm is a pattern of sounds and silences. Every sound that we make is called a syllable. When we speak, we make a lot of different sounds.

Modern sonnets in iambic pentameter