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Catullan measure

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A meter originating from the Latin poet Catullus, often hendecasyllabic

Detailed Definition
Catullan measure refers to the hendecasyllabic meter used by the Roman poet Catullus, composed of eleven syllables with a distinctive rhythmic pattern. It has been adapted in modern poetry to evoke classical elegance and precision, often in satirical or lyrical contexts, maintaining its concise musicality.
Example
Example in poetry:
Catullus often wrote hendecasyllabics, an eleven-syllable Latin measure suited to invective, friendship, and erotic address; Catullus 5 begins “Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus,” with lively conversational momentum; English adaptations may approximate the meter by stress and syllable count rather than reproduce Latin quantity exactly; “Let us laugh at the old men’s gossip” can be shaped toward a brisk hendecasyllabic imitation
Additional Notes
Practice hendecasyllabic meter to understand classical rhythm; suits both satire and love poetry. Catullus used this for intimate, conversational tone. Eleven syllables per line with specific stress patterns. Adapt carefully to English stress-timed nature. Use for witty or passionate subjects. Study translations of Catullus for guidance. Offers flexibility within strict structure, allowing for natural speech rhythms.
Also Known As
Hendecasyllabic meter Classical measure Latin cadence Galliamb
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