Tetrameter

As Tetrámeter ( . AltGr , four (multiple) measurement '; lat. Octonarius ) refers to a four double feet ( Dipodien existing) meter . It occurs in trochaic , iambic, and anapaestic rhythms, both catalectic and akatalectic, depending on whether the last foot is shortened by one syllable (catalectic) or complete (akatalectic).

The iambic catalectic tetrameter is found particularly among the Greek poets and comedians ; the trochaic tetrameter in the Greek playwrights , the Latin comedians, in order to produce a solemn movement, in the Pervigilium Veneris as well as in the old Spanish romance , and finally in Platen's poems (e.g. The Grave in Busento ). The anapaestic ( mixed with individual spondes ) tetrameter was used by Platen and Prutz for the choral stanzas of their satirical comedies , following the example of Aristophanes .

Trochaic tetrameters also form the traditional meter of Finnish folk poetry. B. composed the Finnish national epic Kalevala .

Example (trochaic and akatalectic):

Also, the frost wafer spoke to me Ver se Re gen san dte me Ge säng e,

At dre Wei sen broke th win de, tru gen me the Mee res where gen,

Sayings e Lead th to the Vö gel, Wip fel broke th Zau over wor th.

Others

Tetrameter is also the name of a field measuring instrument with four scales.

literature

• WJ Emmerig: Instructions for Latin verse art. Fourth much improved edition, 1825. Regensburg, by J. M. Daisenberger.
• dtv lexicon of antiquity . Philosophy, literature, science. German paperback publisher Munich.