epode

American  

[ep-ohd] / ˈɛp oʊd /

noun

1. Classical Prosody. a kind of lyric poem, invented by Archilochus, in which a long verse is followed by a short one.

2. the part of a lyric ode following the strophe and antistrophe and composing with them a triadic unit.

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epode British  

/ ˈɛpəʊd /

noun

1. the part of a lyric ode that follows the strophe and the antistrophe

2. a type of lyric poem composed of couplets in which a long line is followed by a shorter one, invented by Archilochus

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Etymology

Origin of epode

1590–1600; < Latin epōdos < Greek epōidós an aftersong, singing after. See ep-, ode

Explanation

In poetry, an epode is the third and final section of an ode, after the strophe and antistrophe. Part of an epode's purpose is to summarize the poem's themes. An ancient Greek epode was originally a stand-alone form of lyric poetry in which short verses are followed by longer ones. Eventually, epodes were added to the end of the longer praise poems known as odes; while the strophe and antistrophe share the same meter, the epode's is usually different. Its use as a final stanza summing up the poem's major ideas is reflected in the word's Greek meaning, "after-song."

Example Sentences

See c. xxxi. of his life, and the Epode of Horace written on the occasion.

From The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 05: Claudius by Suetonius Tranquillus, Gaius

The Epode, or closing song, is full, not of doctrine, but of the pure poetry of the worship.

From The Bacchae of Euripides by Euripedes

These poems evidently made a success, and Horace returned to the theme in his 17th Epode.

From Horace by Martin, Theodore

Again, in the second Epode, these fine verses would surely sound much finer if they began, 'As a hardy climber who has set his heart,' than with the jejune 'As hardy climber.'

From Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2 by Stevenson, Robert Louis

Let the obnoxious Epode remain, to terrify such of your friends as are willing to be terrified.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)