8.5 Scansion and Meter

• Dactylic hexameter consists of six feet
• A dactyl in hexameter is represented as ¯ ∪ ∪


  True
• What is the syllable pattern of a spondee in dactylic hexameter?

  \overline{\phantom{\cup}} \overline{\phantom{\cup}}</latex>
• The structure of a dactylic hexameter line generally begins with five feet
• A dactylic hexameter line always ends with a dactyl.

  False
• What is the syllable pattern of a dactyl in hexameter?

  $\overline{\phantom{\cup}} \cup \cup$
• A caesura in hexameter is a pause or break within a line.

  True
• What is the syllable pattern of a dactyl in dactylic hexameter?

  ¯ ∪ ∪
• A caesura in dactylic hexameter is a pause or break within a line.


  True
• Caesurae in hexameter prevent the line from becoming monotonous.


  True
• What meter is used in Vergil's Aeneid?

  Dactylic hexameter
• What is the first foot in the example line from the Aeneid: "Ar-ma vi-rum-que ca-no, Troi-ae"?

  ¯ ∪ ∪
• What is the syllable pattern of a dactyl in dactylic hexameter?

  ¯ ∪ ∪
• The pattern of dactyls and spondees creates the distinctive rhythm of dactylic hexameter.


  True
• A dactyl consists of one long syllable followed by two short syllables
• A spondee is composed of two long syllables

  True
• The pattern of dactyls and spondees creates the distinctive rhythm and meter of dactylic hexameter
• Steps for identifying caesurae in dactylic hexameter

  1️⃣ Identify the foot number

  2️⃣ Determine the caesura type

  3️⃣ Mark the caesura placement
• Match the caesura type with its position:

  Masculine caesura ↔️ After the first syllable of the 3rd foot

  Feminine caesura ↔️ After the second syllable of the 4th foot
• Caesurae help prevent monotony and control pacing in dactylic hexameter


  True
• The line *Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris* contains a masculine caesura


  True
• Steps for analyzing metrical features in Vergil's Aeneid

  1️⃣ Identify dactyls and spondees

  2️⃣ Locate caesurae within lines

  3️⃣ Analyze their impact on rhythm
• What do metrical features in the Aeneid emphasize?

  Thematic content
• What is the meter used in the Aeneid?

  Dactylic hexameter
• How many feet are in a line of dactylic hexameter?

  Six
• Each foot in dactylic hexameter can be either a dactyl or a spondee
• The final foot in a dactylic hexameter line must always be a spondee.

  False
• A spondee in dactylic hexameter is composed of two long syllables.
• A spondee in dactylic hexameter is composed of two long syllables
• Where does a masculine caesura occur in a hexameter line?

  After 1st syllable of 3rd foot
• A feminine caesura occurs after the second syllable of the 4th foot.
• A typical dactylic hexameter line consists of five dactyls or spondees followed by an ending dactyl or spondee
• Arrange the components of a typical dactylic hexameter line in order:

  1️⃣ Five dactyls or spondees

  2️⃣ Ending dactyl or spondee
• A dactylic hexameter line must always end with a spondee.

  False
• A spondee in dactylic hexameter is composed of two long syllables
• What are the two types of feet in dactylic hexameter?

  Dactyl and spondee
• Match the foot type with its syllable pattern:

  Dactyl ↔️ ¯ ∪ ∪

  Spondee ↔️ ¯ ¯
• What is a caesura in dactylic hexameter?

  A pause within a line
• What is the purpose of scanning hexameter lines?

  To identify metrical patterns
• In the line *Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris*, the first foot is a dactyl