In real poems lines have often an extra syllable at the end and sometimes lack the first unaccented syllable. The sign "x" stands for a syllable with no stress, and the sign "/" stands for a syllable with stress. Stresses fall on the second, the fourth, the sixth, the eighth and the tenth syllable. In theory every line is composed of ten syllables and have five stresses. The word "pentameter" indicates that a line has five of these "feet". This is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. The word "iambic" refers to the type of foot that is used, known as the iamb. The rhythm which words make in the line is measured in small groups of syllables called "feet". Pentameter means "consisting of five measures" and iambic "consisting of iambs". The two words seem difficult, because the words are Greek. It is the most common kind of verse in English literature.
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