da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM

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Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

0 posted 2002-12-04 01:37 PM

da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM

That's Iambic Pentameter folks.

Iambic - Means you have an unstressed syllable followed by a STRESSED syllable - as in the word "parade" - pa-RADE

A two-syllable word which begins with a STRESSED syllable and is followed by an unstressed one - such as "sunshine" = SUN-shine - is trochaic

We're working with IAMBICS this month. Your iambic meter must begin with an unstressed syllable and end with a STRESSED one. BUT - You also have to give each line FIVE FEET (Pentameter). This means that you'll have five iambics per line in your poem.

So - We're talking about more than syllable count - We have to get our STRESSES in the right places...

I see we've got a few examples already...

quote:

Balladeer says...

Well, this is such a silly thing to do.
Iambic without rhyme? It makes no sense!
I love to write iambic when I can
But, if it doesn't rhyme, then what's the use?

well-THIS/is-SUCH/a-SIL/ly-THING/to-DO
i-AM/bic-WITH/out-RHYME/it-MAKES/no-SENSE
i-LOVE/to-WRITE/i-AM/bic-WHEN/i-CAN
but-IF/it-DOES/n't-RHYME/then-WHAT"S/the-USE

Local Parasite says...

to write in meter, quite a task might seem
but, rest assured, it can be done with ease
pentameter can seem itself quite "blank"
without the grace of rhyme or more technique

the trick is just to learn to tame your brain.
if you can think in iambs, all is well...
and watch your feet, that they are counted five
with this in mind, I'm sure that you'll be fine.

to-WRITE/in-ME/ter-QUITE/a-TASK/might-SEEM
but-REST/as-SURED/it-CAN/be-DONE/with-EASE
pent-AM/e-TER/can-SEEM/it-SELF/quite-BLANK
with-OUT/the-GRACE/of-RHYME/or-MORE/tech-NIQUE

the-TRICK/is-JUST/to-LEARN/to-TAME/your-BRAIN
if-YOU/can-THINK/in-I/ambs-ALL/is-WELL
and-WATCH/your-FEET/that-THEY/are-COUNT/ed-FIVE
with-THIS/in-MIND/i'm-SURE/that-YOU"LL/be-FINE

Bridget says...

I'm in again for what it's worth, Dear Nan.
The Gentle Spirit volunteered for poems that scan (iambic hexameter)
May I have credit if I also ran?

i'm-IN/a-GAIN/for-WHAT/it's-WORTH/dear-NAN.
the-GEN/tle-SPI/rit-VOL/un-TEERED/for-POEMS/that-SCAN.
may-I/have-CRED/it-IF/i-AL/so-RAN?

There are some pretty good examples of Iambic Pentameter.  Two rules - IAMBIC METER (unstressed-STRESSED) and - FIVE FEET (total of ten syllables)

Does that all make sense?

Don't forget - Blank Verse DOESN'T rhyme!!!...

As for a SESTINA... Here's an indepth description - /pip/Forum22/HTML/000076.html  - Enjoy...

(My signature stanza from Serendipity is written in Iambic Pentameter - but it rhymes).

Waft every crest upon your destined sea
Embrace the Wave of Serendipity
Lest its elusive arcane ecstasy
Refurl with sail for all eternity
Nancy Ness

[This message has been edited by Nan (12-04-2002 01:49 PM).]

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2002-12-04 01:47 PM

That's ALL I have to say, as you can see
on this here stuff, iambic poetry
in and out and up and down, I'm dizzy
but if you're quite patient you might yet see
some iambic pentameter from me

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius

since 2000-10-09

Posts 13989

2 posted 2002-12-04 02:20 PM

I'm still working on it gang...
I will most certainly give it a try!
{and I'm NEVER asking questions again.......lol........}

Marshalzu

Member Elite

since 2001-02-15

Posts 2681
Lurking

3 posted 2002-12-13 03:12 AM

Just popped in to add this to my library

Wind

Member Elite

since 2002-10-12

Posts 2981

4 posted 2002-12-16 08:48 PM

I don't understand. Is this right?

Some/TIMES/It's/HARD/for/ME

I can't tell the difference between stressedand not stressed. What do they mean?

Never be normal!

[This message has been edited by Wind (12-16-2002 08:49 PM).]

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

5 posted 2002-12-16 09:12 PM

Sunshine, your first two lines are perfect iambic!! WHOA!!! There's hope!!!

wind...stressed just means where the accent is placed. For example, if you say "color" the stress (or accent) is on the first syllable CO-lor. You wouldn't say co-LOR, right? If you say "commit", the stress is on the second syllable...com-MIT instead of COM-mit. That's all stressed means.

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-25

Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...

6 posted 2002-12-17 01:04 PM

da-BUMP/da-BUMP/da-BUMP/da-BUMP/da-BUMP

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