Horatian ode
- noun
- /həˈreɪʃən oʊd/
- Literature
- A classic example of a Horatian ode is found in the works of the poet John Keats, where each stanza follows a consistent meter.
Examples
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In her new collection, the poet explores themes of nature and time through the form of a Horatian ode, showcasing balanced stanzas.
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Recent criticism has documented the gradual identification of the Psalms with the Horatian ode, from Marcantonio Flaminio's Neolatin.
Academic text (2002) -
The structure of a Horatian ode typically includes multiple stanzas, each with a similar rhyme scheme.
Synonyms
A poem that praises someone or something in a formal, musical way
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'Horatian' means 'pertaining to Horace' and modifies 'ode', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it is an ode in Horace's style. Although the full technical description (specific stanza length and meter) is specialized, the general sense is transparently derivable and follows common adjective–noun composition patterns.
Etymology
Horatian ode is named after the Roman poet Horace, who wrote calm, balanced odes with stanzas of the same length and a steady beat. Later writers copied his form, so a Horatian ode means 'a poem made in Horace's calm, regular style'.