OTP: Lesson - The Scansion of Poetry - Additional Examples

The Scansion of Poetry - Additional Examples

Let's take a look at a few more examples before you try for yourself.

Example 1

In nova fert animus mūtātās dīcere fōrmās

Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 1, Line 1

  • Locate any examples of elision: none!
  • Separate syllables: in/no/va/fert/a/ni/mus/mu/ta/tus/di/ce/re/for/mas
  • Let's lay out the full line with space to mark each syllable as long or short. Use the rules for quantity to determine length. This should make it easier to see the feet for the final analysis:
Syllable Length, Ovid Metamorphosis Example 1
in no va fert a ni mus

mū

 tā tās dī ce re

fōr

 mās
− u u − u u − − − − − u u − −
  • Now we can search for feet: long, short, short = dactyl; long, long = spondee. These are the only two types of feet used in dactylic hexameter and we know that the line ends with a dactyl, spondee for feet five and six. Remember, feet are divided with a straight line: |
    • −   u  u  |   −   u u |   −     −   |  − −  |  −  u u |   −   −   | 
    • In nova | fert ani | mus mū | tātās | dīcere | fōrmās |
    • dactyl | dactyl | spondee | spondee | dactyl | spondee

Example 2

mox ait "experiar deus hic discrīmine apertō

Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 1, Line 122

  • Check for elision: yes! We have elision:
    • discrīmine~apertō
  • Separate syllables: mox/a/it/ex/pe/ri/ar/de/us/hic/dīs/cri/mi/n~a/per/tō
    • Notes:
      • ait is two syllables: a-it. While "ai" is a common diphthong, here it two vowels (the verb is āiō = where the i is a consonant -> ajo).
      • the "h" in hic will not count as a second consonant, making the -us short in deus.
  • Let's lay this out to add quantity marks:
Syllable Length, Ovid Metamorphosis Example 1

mox

 a it ex pe ri ar de us hic dis crī mi n~a per tō
− u u − u u − u u − − − u u − −
  • Now we can search for feet: long, short, short = dactyl; long, long = spondee. These are the only two types of feet used in dactylic hexameter and we know that the line ends with a dactyl, spondee for feet five and six. Remember, feet are divided with a straight line: |
    • −   u  u  |   −  u u |  −    u u |   −    −  |  −   u   u |   −  −  | 
    • mox ait | "experi | ar deus | hic dis | crīmin~a | pertō |
    • dactyl | dactyl | dactyl | spondee | dactyl | sponde |