Catalexes

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The catalectic ( Greek  κατάληξις katálēxis , "early cessation"; adjective katalektisch ) referred to in the ancient metric one verse at a regular meter , whose last metrical foot (or its last Metron ) is shortened, as opposed to akatalektischen verse, where the last Versfuß is complete. For example, the dactylic hexameter in its complete, akatalectic form consists of six dactyls:

—◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡

In the catalectic form, the last syllable is omitted and the last foot becomes the trochee

—◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡◡ | —◡

Since in the ancient verse theory the dactyl could also be realized by two lengths (——), a catalectic dactyl can also be shortened to one length (-). A shortening by two or more metric elements or by a whole meter is also referred to as brachycatalexes (adjective brachycatalectic ).

See also: hypercatalexes

literature

Web links

Wiktionary: Katalexe  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Günther Schweikle, Dieter Burdorf (Ed.): Metzler Lexikon Literatur. Terms and definitions. Metzler, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-476-01612-6 , p. 96.
  2. Sandro Boldrini : Prosody and Metrics of the Romans. Teubner, Stuttgart & Leipzig 1999, ISBN 3-519-07443-5 , p. 135.