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

Its bitterness is found in Catullus, Bibaculus, and Horace, though in the last the epode breaks its monotony.

From The History of Roman Literature From the earliest period to the death of Marcus Aurelius by Cruttwell, Charles Thomas

In answer to your Lordship's objection to many-twinkling, in that beautiful epode, I will quote authority to which you will yield.

From Selected English Letters (XV - XIX Centuries) by Wragg, H.

He was also the first to make use of the arrangement of verses called the epode.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various

The Greek ode was commonly divided into the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode; the strophe and antistrophe being identical in structure, though varying in different odes, and the epode being of different structure.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald

To Sicily we trace the germs of Greek comedy, and the addition of the epode to the strophe and anti-strophe.

From Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs (1886) by Martinengo-Cesaresco, Countess Evelyn