An Introduction to Greek and Latin Metre

Posted on by Antigone in Greek Language, Greek Literature, Latin Language, Latin Literature

David Butterfield

On this page can be found a series of ten lectures on Greek and Latin metre, delivered to students at the University of Cambridge in Easter Term 2021. They are intended for those who can read Greek and/or Latin poetry but who are curious about the full range of metres used by ancient authors. The relevant handout can be downloaded beneath each video, which is talked through at alarming length on screen (and may be more easily legible with the HD option). Lectures 3-9 end with optional exercises for scansion.[1]

Those seeking a more introductory piece on Latin (and inevitably Greek) metre could try this article, if they wish.

LECTURE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO PROSODY AND SCANSION

The handout for Lectures One and Two can be downloaded here.

LECTURE TWO: ODDITIES AND DIFFICULTIES OF SCANSION

The handout for Lectures One and Two was already downloaded here. You can test out the core principles by scanning some Latin and Greek prose (!) here (where each syllable is to be weighed without any considerations for metre) and checking your answers here.

LECTURE THREE: THE GREEK DACTYLIC HEXAMETER

The handout for Lecture Three can be downloaded here.

LECTURE FOUR: THE LATIN DACTYLIC HEXAMETER

The handout for Lecture Four can… here.

LECTURE FIVE: THE ELEGIAC COUPLET

Now here.

LECTURE SIX: THE GREEK IAMBIC TRIMETER (ETC.)

And here.

LECTURE SEVEN: THE METRES OF PLAUTUS AND TERENCE (LATIN IAMBIC TRIMETER ETC.)

Here, sir.

LECTURE EIGHT: GREEK LYRIC 1 (OVERVIEW OF AEOLIC AND DORIC TRADITIONS; GREEK CHORAL ODES)

Still here. And since the lecturer manifestly knows nothing substantive about Ancient Greek music, why not try this piece on the music of Greek choruses, or this piece on what the Greeks thought the function of music was?

LECTURE NINE: GREEK LYRIC 2 (SAPPHICS, ALCAICS, GLYCONICS ETC.); LATIN LYRIC 1

Here.

LECTURE TEN: LATIN LYRIC CONTINUED; SOME ODDER METRES; CODA.

H-.

A rudimentary bibliography can be found here, alongside which this may or may not be of use.[2]

Notes

Notes
⇧1 Antigone, I gather, accepts no legal or moral responsbility for whether this is how you would like to spend 800 minutes of your hard-won time.
⇧2 The music used throughout the series is largely taken from Now That’s What I Call Musaeus! (Epic) vols. 43 and 73; further details available on application.