In poetry, what does iambic pentameter describe?

Iambic pentameter describes a specific metrical pattern commonly used in English poetry, where a line consists of five feet, each foot containing an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This means that in total, a line in iambic pentameter has ten syllables, creating a rhythmic flow that is often associated with the works of poets like William Shakespeare and John Milton. The alternating pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables gives iambic pentameter its characteristic beat, making it a fundamental structure in the metrical tradition of poetry.

The other options relate to different aspects of poetry but do not accurately define iambic pentameter. For instance, while rhyme schemes involve the pattern of end rhymes in lines of poetry, and narrative structure pertains to the organization of story elements, neither describes the rhythmic and metrical characteristics that define iambic pentameter. Similarly, a poetic format with couplets refers to pairs of lines that may or may not utilize iambic pentameter but do not encapsulate the essence of this specific metrical term.