Question

identify the meter in the following line (stressed lines are underlined): \tonight we gaze at stars that light the sky.\

iambic pentameter
trochaic octameter
dactyl

Explanation:

Analyze the syllable stress pattern

We examine the syllables and the underlined stressed words/syllables in the line:
"Tonight we gaze at stars that light the sky."

Breaking down the syllables and their stresses (unstressed = \(\smile\), stressed = \(-\)):

• To (unstressed) night (stressed) \(

ightarrow \smile -\)

• we (unstressed) gaze (stressed) \(

ightarrow \smile -\)

• at (unstressed) stars (stressed) \(

ightarrow \smile -\)

• that (unstressed) light (stressed) \(

ightarrow \smile -\)

• the (unstressed) sky (stressed) \(

ightarrow \smile -\)

Identify the poetic foot

Each unit of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (\(\smile -\)) is called an iamb.

Count the number of feet

There are 5 iambic feet in this single line:

1. Tonight
2. we gaze
3. at stars
4. that light
5. the sky

A line consisting of five iambic feet is written in iambic pentameter.

Evaluate the given options

• iambic pentameter: Matches our analysis of 5 iambic feet.
• trochaic octameter: Consists of 8 trochaic feet (stressed-unstressed), which is incorrect.
• dactyl: A foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, which is incorrect.

Answer:

• (A) iambic pentameter (Correct answer)
• (B) trochaic octameter
• (C) dactyl