Question

identify the meter in the following line (stressed lines are underlined): \i dream of stars that shine in skies above\

trochaic octameter
iambic pentameter
anapest

Explanation:

Analyze the syllable stress pattern

The line is: "I dream of stars that shine in skies above"
The underlined (stressed) syllables are: "dream", "stars", "shine", "skies", "bove" (from "above").
Mapping the unstressed (U) and stressed (/) syllables:

• I (U) dream (/)
• of (U) stars (/)
• that (U) shine (/)
• in (U) skies (/)
• a- (U) bove (/)

Determine the poetic foot

Each unit consists of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (U /). This pattern is an iamb.

Count the feet and identify the meter

There are five iambic feet in the line:

1. I dream (U /)
2. of stars (U /)
3. that shine (U /)
4. in skies (U /)
5. above (U /)

Five iambic feet make up iambic pentameter.

Answer:

• trochaic octameter
• iambic pentameter (Correct answer)
• anapest