Final answer:
In iambic pentameter, each line usually consists of ten syllables, arranged as five iambs. Occasionally, poets may vary the syllable count for poetic effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Iambic Pentameter
A poem written in iambic pentameter has a specific metrical structure where each line typically consists of five metrical feet, with each foot being an iamb.
An iamb is a metrical unit made up of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (“da-DUM”). Therefore, a standard line of iambic pentameter will have ten syllables.
Occasionally, poets may vary the number of syllables for effect, such as in the line from Shakespeare's Hamlet, "To be or not to be: that is the question," where the “tion” of “question” is an eleventh, unstressed beat. This technique can create a pause or emphasis, adding to the poetic device or the overall meaning of the poem.
Understanding iambic pentameter is critical for analyzing English poetry, as it is a common meter used by poets such as William Shakespeare and John Milton.