Poetic Devices and Scansion

## How Latin Poetry Works Latin poetry isn't just about rhyme—it's about rhythm and sound. Poets used meter, wordplay, and vivid imagery to create memorable verses. ### Key Poetic Devices - **Alliteration:** Repetition of consonant sounds. - **Metaphor:** Comparing two unlike things. - **Anaphora:** Repeating words at the start of lines or clauses. ### Scansion Scansion is marking the rhythm of a poem. Latin poetry often uses dactylic hexameter, where each line has six feet (combinations of long and short syllables). #### Example of Dactylic Hexameter - _"Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris..."_ (Aeneid 1.1) ## Why It Matters - Understanding meter and devices helps you read poetry aloud and appreciate its artistry. - These tools are used in modern lyrics and poetry, too!