Question

which of the following is not a characteristic of shakespeares plays?
simplistic characters
multiple plotlines
lambic pentameter
dramatic irony

question 5 (multiple choice worth 2 points)
(5.03r mc)
which of the following lines is written in iambic pentameter?
sweet joy, there is none
there is a strange mood here
these happy masks that kiss fair ladies brows
for now we will embrace the day, singing and dancing around

Explanation:

Analyze characteristics of Shakespeare's plays

The first question asks which option is not a characteristic of Shakespeare's plays. Shakespearean dramas are famous for complex, multi-dimensional characters rather than simplistic ones. They frequently employ multiple plotlines, iambic pentameter, and Dramatic Terminology devices like dramatic irony. Therefore, "Simplistic characters" is not a characteristic.

Define iambic pentameter

The second question asks to identify the line written in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter consists of five metrical feet (iambs), each containing an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM), totaling ten syllables per line.

Analyze the syllable count and meter of each option

• "Sweet joy, there is none" has 5 syllables: Sweet (unstressed) joy (stressed), there (unstressed) is (stressed) none (stressed). This is not iambic pentameter.
• "There is a strange mood here" has 7 syllables: There (unstressed) is (stressed) a (unstressed) strange (stressed) mood (stressed) here (unstressed). This is not iambic pentameter.
• "These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows" has 10 syllables. Let's scan the stress pattern:

These (unstressed) hap- (stressed) py (unstressed) masks (stressed) that (unstressed) kiss (stressed) fair (unstressed) la- (stressed) dies' (unstressed) brows (stressed).
This perfectly matches the unstressed/stressed pattern of five iambic feet.

• "For now we will embrace the day, singing and dancing around" has 16 syllables, which is far too long for pentameter.

Select the correct options

For the first question, the correct option is "Simplistic characters".
For the second question, the correct option is "These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows".

Answer:

Question 1

• (A) Simplistic characters (Correct answer)
• (B) Multiple plotlines
• (C) Iambic pentameter
• (D) Dramatic irony

Question 2

• (A) Sweet joy, there is none
• (B) There is a strange mood here
• (C) These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows (Correct answer)
• (D) For now we will embrace the day, singing and dancing around