dactylic hexameter: the epic meter
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Dactylic Hexameter: The Epic Meter. What is Meter. T he rhythm of a piece of poetry In L atin meter is defined in terms of quantity i.e. the length of a vowel sound The Aeneid uses dactylic hexameter . Dactylic Hexameter. Each line is divided into six measures or feet. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Dactylic Hexameter:The Epic Meter
What is Meter• The rhythm of a piece of poetry
• In Latin meter is defined in terms of quantity i.e. the length of a vowel sound
• The Aeneid uses dactylic hexameter
Dactylic Hexameter Each line is divided into six measures or feet.
Each foot will be either a dactyl or a spondee.
Arma virumque cano, Toriae qui primus ab oris
Arma vi|rumque ca|no, Troi|ae qui | primus ab | oris
Measures Syllables are usually divided between a vowel and a
single consonant. Vi – rum not vir – um When a vowel is followed by two consonants in the
same word, the division falls between the two consonants
Ar – ma nor arm – a When p, g, d, k, t is followed by an l or r, treat as a
single consonant. Pa – tres not pat – res
Dactyl A dactyl comes from the Greek word
daktulos meaning finger. A dactyl is made up of a long vowel sound
followed by two short vowel sounds.
Spondee A spondee is a foot with two long vowel
sounds
–– ––
Tips The 6th foot in a line will always be a spondee
The 5th foot in a line will almost always be a dactyl
Reading AloudDo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzrnEzKbaE&feature=related
Don’t Do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoD0vjQidrc&playnext=1&list=PL7A4E520B6DBD65C1&feature=results_main
Long SyllablesLong by nature
Diphthongs like ae, au, ei, eu, oeMarked with a macron _ _
Coeptus in villa
Long by position Followed by two or more consonants (even in a different word)Followed by a double consonant like x = ks or z = ds
ExceptionsH does not count as a consonant
When p, g, d, k, t is followed by an l or r, treat as a single consonant. I.e. this will not make a vowel long by position.
Elision Elision is the omission of syllableE.g. I’m instead of I am. When a word ending in a vowel or vowel + m is followed by a word beginning with a vowel or h + a vowel, the first vowel sound is omitted.
RememberI can be either a consonant or a vowel. When I occurs at the beginning of a word and is followed by a vowel, it functions as a consonant.
Iungo = jugo iam = jam Iuno = Juno
Qu, su, and gu functiuon as a single consonant.