Color-Coding Meter

One of the biggest problems that students face with meter is that they get lost in the details of the feet, without seeing the overall shape of the line. By color-coding the distinct parts of the hexameter and pentamenter lines, perhaps I can make those parts appear more clearly to the students.

Here are the principles I will be following

1) I'll be working with "typical" verse lines only, which is to say that the hexameter line will have its caesura in the third foot, and that it will have a dactyl for the fifth foot. In particular, the marking is much more clear when there is a diaeresis at the juncture of the fourth and fifth foot. It's good for students to become familiar with this standard kind of couplet; they can learn about less commonly found metrical patterns later on.

2) RED for double dactyl. For the first three feet of the hexameter line, I will use red to mark a double dactyl, including the first element of the third foot. Likewise, I will use red to mark a double dactyl in a pentameter hemistich. For the third and fourth foot of the hexameter line, I will also use red to mark a double dactyl (although the first element of the third foot will not be marked, coming as it does before the caesura).

3) BLUE for dactyl-spondee. For the first three feet of the hexameter line, I will use blue to mark a dactyl-spondee, including the first element of the third foot. Likewise, I will use blue to mark a dactyl-spondee in a pentameter hemistich. For the third and fourth foot of the hexameter line, I will also use blue to mark a dactyl-spondee (although the first element of the third foot will not be marked, coming as it does before the caesura).

4) GREEN for spondee-dactyl. For the first three feet of the hexameter line, I will use green to mark a spondee-dactyl, including the first element of the third foot. Likewise, I will use green to mark a spondee-dactyl in a pentameter hemistich. For the third and fourth foot of the hexameter line, I will also use green to mark a spondee-dactyl (although the first element of the third foot will not be marked, coming as it does before the caesura).

5) BROWN for spondee-spondee. For the first three feet of the hexameter line, I will use purple to mark a spondee-spondee, including the first element of the third foot. Likewise, I will use purple to mark a spondee-spondee in a pentameter hemistich. For the third and fourth foot of the hexameter line, I will also use purple to mark a spondee-spondee (although the first element of the third foot will not be marked, coming as it does before the caesura).

For more samples, look at the posts labeled as "colorcoded" for meter: Color-Coding Meter.

Sample poem: RUSTICUS ET HERCULES (more information)

Altius in caeno · plaustrum fort(e) haesit Agrestis;

Difficilis longo || facta vi(a) imbre fuit.

Segnis at Alciden · precibus petit: "O! Deus," inquit,

"Dexter ades nobis || auxiliumque refer."

"Quid tibi nobiscum?" Sic torvus reddidit ille,

"Ex aliis quid opes || auxiliumque rogas?

Incut(e) equis flagrum; · propria vi nititor ipse;

Si non profuerit, || fas et adire Deos."