What is iambic pentaneter used in poetry?

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Almost all of Shakespeare's poems are in Iambic Pentameter, like sonnet 18. IP is when there are ten syllables in each line with two syllables in each iamb. There are five iambs in a line, with one stressed and one unstressed syllable in each of the 5 iambs.
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Iambic poetry is measured in groups of syllables called "feet."
One foot = "da DUM"

Iambic pentameter has five "feet,"or groups of syllables, usually (but not always) sounding like this:
"da DUM, da DUM, da DUM, da DUM, da DUM"

Shakespeare used it quite often - here is an example from Macbeth, when Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth after Duncan's murder:
"And wash this filthy witness from your hand."
(and WASH this FILthy WITness FROM your HAND)

Or in Twelfth Night, when Duke Orsino says:
"If music be the food of love, play on."
(If MU sic BE the FOOD of LOVE play ON)
 
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