NOT GLENN PLEASE
According to what I have read, the prose and writing style for the book titled "The Odyssey" by Homer is Dactylic Hexameter. The article that I read went on to say that a hexameter is a poetic meter with six measures as in the bars in music. The article continues saying that measures or bars in poetry are known as feet; therefore, you can translate hexameter as six feet. The article proceeds saying that a dactyl is a foot shaped like a finger: one long, or accented, syllable followed by two short, or unaccented, syllables. In conclusion, the article says that six feet are going to be in a line where the first five feet are shaped like fingers (LONG + short + short); the last foot is never shaped this way; it will be either: (LONG + LONG) or (LONG + short). For example, "ELephant," "MURmuring," "MOCKingbird," and "MUsical."
Can you please explain how this is being done in the following lines, which are line 340 thru line 350 of book one of "The Odyssey?"It is being done through the actual individual words of the poem put together line by line. Not by each unique word on and of itself. I hope that explains it.
Whomagemightseeseiz'dofwhat youth made prize. – example: Whom is long, followed by age and might which are short. See is long, followed by seiz’d and of which are short. What and youth are long plus short. Made and prize are long plus short.
But he whoever of the mortal race
Is most unblest, he holds my father's place.
This, since you ask, I answer: 'She again.'
'The gods sure did not make the future strain
Both of thy race and days obscure to thee,
Since thou wert born so of Penelope.
The style may by thy after acts be won,
Of so great sire the high undoubted son.
Say truth in this then: what's this feasting here?
What all this rout? Is all this nuptial cheer
Thank you.