Alcaic Verse (Noun)
Meaning
Verse in the meter used in Greek and Latin poetry consisting of strophes of 4 tetrametric lines; reputedly invented by Alcaeus.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- Alcaic verse is one of the oldest and most distinctive forms of Greek and Latin poetry.
- The use of alcaic verse is evident in many ancient Roman poets' works, such as those of Horace.
- Scholars attribute the origins of alcaic verse to the Greek poet Alcaeus of Mytilene.
- Many translations of alcaic verse have struggled to replicate its meter and lyrical quality.
- A characteristic feature of alcaic verse is the consistent alternation between long and short syllables in its four-line strophes.