Wednesday 10 July 2013

Miss Hasler's English Class: 6

Hello again, class! Did you all enjoy the poem I wrote the other day? I hope so. Can anyone guess what today’s lesson is all about? No, Andrea... it isn’t about chocolate. It’s about poetry! Timmy, don’t make that face.

Poetry is a lot like music. It has rhythm, just like music: when you read poetry out loud you can hear the rhythm. Listen as I read a line out loud from a poem you all know.

Mary had a little lamb.

Can you hear the rhythm? Ma-ry had-a litt-le lamb.

Rhythm in poetry has a special name. It is called meter. There are lots of different meters that describe lots of different poetic rhythm-schemes, and they all have special names so we can tell them apart.

One meter that some of you may have heard of is iambic pentameter. This one is basically well-known because Shakespeare wrote a lot of things that use it.

Watch as I write it on the board. Iambic pentameter... see how it’s spelt? As if someone was saying ‘I am bic’? Good.

But whatever can it mean? They are two very strange words. Let’s work it out by breaking them down.

The first word, ‘iambic’, describes the type of metrical foot used. Yes, a line of poetry is made up of feet... it’s a silly word to use, but there you go. It might help you to think of a line of poetry as a row of feet, like this:


See? A poetic line is made up of ‘feet’. Yes, Joey, I know they look like shoes. I can’t draw feet.

So why is our example called ‘iambic’? Because it describes a type of foot called an iamb. Iamb = iambic, just as hero = heroic.

There are lots of types of poetic feet, and an iamb is one that contains two syllables: an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Da-dum.

Everyone say da-dum. Good!

We use stressed and unstressed syllables all the time when we speak: ‘stress’ simply means that we place more emphasis on some parts of words or speech than others. The clever doggie chased the cheeky cat. We say clever rather than clever, don’t we? So that means ‘clever’ is a word with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.

Okay, so now we know what the ‘iambic’ part of iambic pentameter means. But what about the ‘pentameter’ part? The meter at the end tells us that it is a type of poetic meter, so that just leaves penta. Do you remember an earlier class when we talked about words we use in English that come from other languages? Well, ‘penta’ comes from the Greek language, and it describes a number. Does anyone know which number it describes?

That’s right, pao – it’s the number five. So, if penta means five, pentameter must be a meter that contains five of something.

Look at the board again and we see what it contains five of. Feet! So ‘iambic pentameter’ simply describes a line of poetry that contains five iambic feet. If we were inventing it today we might call it a ‘five da-dum poetry line’. So you see it isn’t such a scary thing after all.

Let’s write an example line in iambic pentameter. The rhythm (or meter), remember, goes da-dum da-dum da-dum da-dum da-dum.

The frisky pony galloped here and there.

The-fris ky-po ny-ga lloped-here and-there.

Notice that the line contains some words with one syllable and some with more than one. Single-syllable (monosyllabic) words are flexible and can be stressed or unstressed, but polysyllabic ones – like pony – should be treated with care to make sure they fit properly into our metrical scheme. Remember that words can run between feet: another example line might be Dynamic Dexter planted trees all day.

Now, you try! Write a line in iambic pentameter.

58 comments:

  1. Yay school is back in! Miss Hasler why is it called lambic pent...penta....that word? Is it about lambs like the poem you read us? I like lambs, they're soft and cuddly. Did you know that you can't say sheeps? It's just sheep whether there's one or lots of them.
    Little lambs played and skipped in the meadow.
    Curious Little Andrea

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    1. Lambs are sweet, dear, but our foot isn't lambic with an 'L', it's iambic with an 'i'. The name comes from an ancient Greek goddess of poetry. Yes, she is older than me.

      Thank you for your line of poetry - it's very nice. You have the correct number of syllables - yes, ten, like your fingers - but your meter isn't quite right. Some of your feet are stressed-unstressed, rather than unstressed-stressed.

      Listen to the stresses in this slightly reworked line:

      The little lambs had played and skipped all day.

      Da-dum da-dum da-dum da-dum da-dum.

      And well done for knowing that it's sheep and not sheeps. You are a clever girl!

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    2. Thank you Miss Hasler, that sounds nice. I like playing and skipping, too. Wish I had a lamb.
      Little Andrea

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    3. What a sweet girl you are, Andrea! I'm sure your mummy will take you to see a lamb at some point, along with lots of other nice animals at a petting zoo.

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    4. Ms. Penelope? When are we going to Andrea's Aunt's shop? You said we would go sometime.

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    5. Okay thank you

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  2. Hmmm this is difficult for me

    how about

    The naughty boy didn't get a toy

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    1. Very good, Timmy! Your line is very close to iambic pentameter.

      It's just a little short on syllables: it has nine when it should have ten.

      Shall we rework it and make it fit?

      The naughty boy would seldom get a toy.

      Do you hear how that has a consistent rhythm?

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    2. That sounds much better

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    3. Timmy doodles in the corner of his paper

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    4. Are you writing another line of poetry, Timmy? That's very good. You shall have to show me when it's ready.

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    5. No I am drawing a rocket ship!

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    6. Timmy proudly holds up his drawing

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    7. here is another line
      the dog ate the frog in the bog

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    8. That's a lovely drawing, Timmy! You are a clever little drawer.

      And your line is very nice, but again a little short on syllables. It has eight instead of ten.

      Can you think of how to add two more?

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    9. the dog ate the frog in the bog on the log

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    10. That's three more, Timmy. But good try!

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    11. Do I get a sticker too?

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    12. Yes you do, Timmy! You can have a nice one with a rocket ship on it.

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    13. Oh boy!

      Timmy runs up to Ms. Hasler's desk and takes his sticker and puts it on his shirt

      Are you going to spank pao?

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    14. Never you mind about that, Timmy. Go back to your desk and sit quietly. There's a good boy.

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    15. Timmy slumps and goes back to his desk with a frown

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    16. I've got another Miss
      Its more of a rhyme

      Moses supposes his toeses are roses,
      But Moses supposes erroneously,
      For nobody's toeses are posies of roses,
      As Moses supposes his toeses to be.

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    17. A very complex little rhyme, Timmy! Now I'm picturing Gene Kelly turning an elocution lesson into a farce. (Don't get any ideas).

      I think it's safest to say that the rhyme is principally structured around the amphibrach, a three-syllable foot that goes unstressed-stressed-unstressed.

      Here is the first line broken down into feet, with the stressed syllables emphasised:

      Moses (trochee) / supposes (amphibrach) / his toeses (amphibrach) / are roses (amphibrach).

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  3. Miss Hasler, I've written my iambic pentameter! :D

    Umm... I am a tub of dirty water, yes? You use me, drain me then bid me goodbye.

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    1. That's a lovely poem, pao - and the meter is perfect. Well done!

      What a sad poem, though. Isn't it good that water doesn't have feelings?

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    2. Thank you, Miss Hasler.

      I agree. I'd feel sad if water had feelings and can't convey them. And I imagine we'd all be quite terrified if water had feelings and could convey them. Imagine boiling a pot/kettle of water! How freaking pissed it'd be :D

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    3. Now, pao, I'm sure it would be very upset but there's no need for that sort of language.

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    4. I'm very pleased that you wrote two lines of poetry, though - good girl!

      Can you think what the meter would be called if they were both part of the same line?

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  4. But, Miss Hasler, I did not use any bad words! :O

    Hmm... is it... and iambic decameter?

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    1. It is iambic decameter, well done! You can have a sticker at the end of class.

      And I'm afraid you did use some bad words, young lady. Use them again and you'll be in trouble.

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    2. A freaking sticker, cool beans :D

      Was it pissed that's a bad word, Miss Hasler?

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    3. Miss Hasler stands and slaps the desk with her ruler.

      You know perfectly well that it is, pao! And I shall thank you not to use it in my class again! That goes for that 'F' word, too!

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  5. *bounces her index fingers against each other*

    But freaking's not a bad word... just saying...

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    1. That's quite enough, young lady! You are determined to get into trouble today, aren't you?

      Come here!

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    2. *trudges towards Miss Hasler's desk and stays silent*

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    3. *Timmy looks on perfectly aware of what is about to happen*

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    4. Miss Hasler looks down at pao icily.

      You're a very naughty girl. I have told you not to use rude words and yet you persist. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself!

      Miss Hasler takes pao's arm and swats her bottom six times, hard.

      You will not behave badly in my class!

      Now go and sit on the naughty stool - I don't want to hear a peep out of you for the rest of the lesson!

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  6. But it really isn't a bad word... ow!

    *rubs her butt on her short journey to occupying the naughty stool*

    *sits on the stool and puts the tip of her tie in her mouth absently*

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    1. *keeps writing her story about lambs and thinks that Pao is lucky Miss Hasler isn't Aunty. She would have spanked her much harder and washed her mouth out with soap*
      Little Andrea

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  7. Miss Hasler's back and I'm a happy boy.

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  8. This is actually quite a good description of iambic pentameter. Such a funny thing, to use "feet" to describe syllables. Glad you are feeling well enough to lead class again. :)

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    1. Thanks, Ana. I think we'll have to have a second class on poetry as I've barely touched the surface. Maybe a class about limericks! :D

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  9. Let me try:
    I like to swim and dive and splash the girls.

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    1. Excellent, Billy! You can have a sticker, too.

      Delete
  10. "Thanks Miss Hasler!"

    Billy runs up to get his sticker and runs back to his desk. Work done, he goes
    back to playing Angry Birds on the phone in his lap.

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  11. Iambic Pentameter, Miss Hasler -Is that a bit like

    "Was it you who did the pushing?
    Left a stain upon my cushion" or

    Rude poetry in the style of Dr. Seuss

    "I would not do it with a fox
    I would not do it in a box
    I would not do it on the stairs
    I would not do with a pair"

    Hope you find them to be good examples, Miss!

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    1. It's 'a bit like' your examples in that it's a poetic line, Mr X, but the meter you have used is different: your first couplet is in trimeter (three feet) with a mixture of feet (anapest, amphibrach, trochee). Your second example is also in trimeter and goes amphibrach, trochee, cretic. They're both very nice - well done.

      Note to all pupils: I have been a bit over-strict on the composition of our lines in order to reinforce the idea of the iamb as an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one. It is perfectly acceptable to be more flexible than this in practice.

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  12. Thank you, Miss.I've learned far more about the rythym of poetry in yoir class than I did in 2 years of A Level English...)

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    1. You're welcome! I think we shall have to have another class on poetry as there is plenty more to cover.

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  13. That's a good idea Miss and if you would like me to help you punish the naughty girls in your class, I'd be pleased to help..)

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  14. *knock on door*
    *peers timidly round the door*
    "Miss, I'm Poppy a-and I'm new. S-sorry for missing so much-"
    *mother walks in behind her*
    "Poppy! Don't block the doorway!" *swats skirt covered bottom* "Ah, Miss Hasler. Is it okay if my brat joins your class? She definitely needs all the encouragement she can get in improving her English!"
    *Poppy looks shyly at Miss but pouts* "Don't NEED no stinkin' help" *Stomps feet* "I can do 'ambic pentemer! The silly mummy should leave me alone!"

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    1. Now, Poppy, don't make a scene on your first day, dear. You just come with me and we'll find a desk for you.

      *smiles at Poppy's mother as she leads the little girl to her desk*

      There, now. Isn't that nice? You can lift the lid and put your things inside for safe keeping. There's a good girl.

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  15. See! I cans do it!
    ~Poppy

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  16. Hmpf stoopid english! School in summer, no no no no!
    ~pokes Timmy~
    ~Poppy

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