Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

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What type of poetic meter is most often used in Shakespearean Sonnets?

Iambic pentameter.
Trochaic pentameter.
Dactylic hexameter.
Anapaestic tetrameter.

The correct answer is: Iambic pentameter.

Shakesperean Sonnets use iambic pentameter because the lines have five stressed syllables, with a series of unaccented and accented syllables. This allows for the natural rhythm and flow of the poem and helps to create a sense of musicality and beauty in the writing. The other options, trochaic pentameter, dactylic hexameter, and anapaestic tetrameter, are not as commonly used in Shakespearean Sonnets and do not adhere to the strict iambic pattern. This would disrupt the flow of the poem and not fit with the traditional expectations of a Shakespearean Sonnet. Therefore, iambic pentameter is the most suitable and commonly used poetic meter in Shakespearean Sonnets.