Question

how does the rhythm of iambic pentameter contribute to the meaning of shakespeares sonnet 100? select two options.
the stresses highlight important words and concepts.
the stressed syllables impart an impression of anger.
the irregular rhythm emphasizes unpleasant meanings.
the regular rhythm intensifies the emotional impact.
the singsong cadence adds to the sarcasm in the words.

Explanation:

• Iambic pentameter has a regular rhythm (five iambs per line, where an iamb is an unstressed - stressed syllable pair). The regular rhythm helps intensify the emotional impact as it creates a musicality that can draw the reader in and make the emotional content more resonant. Also, the stresses (on the second syllable of each iamb) highlight important words and concepts. For example, in a line like "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?", the stresses fall on "I", "com -", "thee", "sum -", "day" which are key words related to the act of comparison and the subject (thee).
• The stressed syllables in iambic pentameter don't inherently impart anger (it's a very common meter used in a variety of emotional contexts in Shakespeare's sonnets, not just angry ones). Iambic pentameter has a regular rhythm, not an irregular one. And the singsong cadence (which might be more associated with a very simple, perhaps childish rhythm) is not a characteristic of the more sophisticated and emotional iambic pentameter used in sonnets like Sonnet 100 to add sarcasm.

Answer:

The stresses highlight important words and concepts. ; The regular rhythm intensifies the emotional impact.