Question

What is the typical meter used in sonnets?

• A. Iambic pentameter
• B. Trochaic tetrameter
• C. Anapestic trimeter
• D. Dactylic hexameter

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Iambic pentameter

Iambic pentameter is the standard meter in most English sonnets:

• 5 feet per line

• Each foot = 1 unstressed + 1 stressed syllable

• Example: Shall I / comPARE / thee TO / a SUM / mer’s DAY