iamb

=__**Iamb**__=

Iamb is a common feet in English verse, which is cadenced language cut up into lines. An iamb is an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable.

(The underlined syllables are stressed, while the syllables that are not underlined are unstressed.)
 * Examples:**

Some __say__ the __world__ will __end__ in __fire__, Some __say__ in __ice__. From __what__ I've __tast__ed __of__ de__sire__ I __hold__ with __those__ who __fa__vor __fire__. But __if__ it __had__ to __pe__rish __twice__, I __think__ I __know__ e__nough__ of __hate__ To __know__ that __for__ de__struc__tion __ice__ Is __al__so __great__ And __would__ suf__fice__.
 * “Fire and Ice” – Robert Frost** [[image:http://poetry.jesuslist.com/images/robert-frost-new-poem.jpg align="right" caption="Robert Frost" link="http://poetry.jesuslist.com/images/robert-frost-new-poem.jpg"]]

Effect: The steady and predictable rhythm created by the iambic meter in this poem emphasizes Frost's point in this poem about the inevitability of the destruction of the world -- either through fire or ice. The consistent rhythm suggests that such an ending to the world should, and can be, anticipated.

Whose __woods__ these __are__ I __think__ I __know__. His __house__ is __in__ the __vil__lage, __though__; He __will__ not __see__ me __stop__ping __here__ To __watch__ his __woods__ fill __up__ with __snow__.
 * “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening” – Robert Frost**

My __lit__tle __horse__ must __think__ it __queer__ To __stop__ with__out__ a __farm__house __near__ Be__tween__ the __woods__ and __fro__zen __lake__ The __dark__est __eve__ning __of__ the __year__.

He __gives__ his __har__ness __bells__ a __shake__ To __ask__ if __there__ is __some__ mis__take__. The __on__ly __ot__her __sounds__ the __sweep__ Of __ea__sy __wind__ and __dow__ny __flake__.

The __woods__ are __love__ly, __dark__, and __deep__, But __I__ have __pro__mis__es__ to __keep__, And __miles__ to __go__ be__fore__ I __sleep__, And __miles__ to __go__ be__fore__ I __sleep__.

Effects: The iambic meter here creates a steady rhythm that mimics the trotting of a horse. This creates an auditory image to complement the horse imagery mentioned in the poem. The meter also sets the pace of the poem to be rather slow, allowing the reader to conjure an image of a man passing through a patch of woods, //slowly//. Furthermore, the iambic meter emphasizes and enhances the effect of the repetition of the last two lines -- "And miles to go before I sleep..." -- with its own repetition of unstressed-stressed syllables.

To __be__, or __not__ to __be__,—that __is__ the __ques__tion:— Whe__ther__ 'tis __nobler__ in the __mind__ to __suf__fer The __slings__ and __ar__rows __of__ out__rag__eous __for__tune Or __to__ take __arms__ a__gainst__ a __sea__ of __trou__bles, And __by__ op__pos__ing __end__ them?—To __die__,—to __sleep__,— No __more__; and __by__ a __sleep__ to __say__ we __end__ The __heart__ache, __and__ the __thou__sand __nat__ural __shocks__ That __flesh__ is __heir__ to,—'__tis__ a __con__sum__ma__tion De__vout__ly __to__ be __wish'd__. To __die__,—to __sleep__;— To __sleep__! per__chance__ to __dream__:—ay, __there's__ the __rub__; For __in__ that __sleep__ of __death__ what __dreams__ may __come__, When __we__ have __shuf__fled __off__ this __mor__tal __coil__, Must __give__ us __pause__: __there's__ the __res__pect That __makes__ ca__la__mi__ty__ of __so__ long __life__;
 * Extract of Hamlet’s fourth soliloquy in Shakespeare’s __Hamlet__ (III.i)[[image:http://www.sip.ie/sip011/shakespeare_portrait.jpg align="right" caption="William Shakespeare" link="http://www.sip.ie/sip011/shakespeare_portrait.jpg"]]**

Effect: Shakespeare often writes in iambic pentameter, meaning there are five (penta) sets of iambic meters in each line. This mimics the natural rhythm of speech and Shakespeare manages to capture that essence in his plays. In this solliloquy, Hamlet mentions a list of actions "to be...to suffer...to die...to sleep...to dream...". This effect of these lists are heightened by iambic pentameter used by Shakespeare, as the metre itself is a list of repetitive unstressed-stressed syllables. Moreover, the use of iambic pentameter here also emphasizes Hamlet's indecisiveness.