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Epitritic variation

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 modification of epitritic meter (three long, one short syllables) for flexible quantitative patterns.

Detailed Definition
Epitritic variation adapts the heavy epitrite foot by altering positions, used in Greek anapaestic choruses for varied pace. Seen in Sophocles, it conveys shifting moods; poets choose it for expressiveness in tragedy, where variations underscore fate's unpredictability, enriching classical drama's rhythmic depth.
Example
Example in poetry:
Epitritic variation alters the epitrite (u / / u) with stress shifts, as in "The wind, it blows" (variation); "The stars, they shine" (epitritic variation); "The fire, it burns" (modified); "The bells, they ring" (variation); "The river, flows" (epitritic variation); "The moon, it rises" (altered epitrite).
Additional Notes
Epitritic variation adjusts the placement of the short syllable within the epitrite (e.g., first, second, third, or fourth), allowing flexible stress patterns; this versatility supports musical phrasing in quantitative poetry.
Also Known As
Epitritic modification varied epitrite
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