How to recite Latin poetry • hexameter, Aeneid I.1-7 • Ranieri's 5-stage scanning exercise

Click the time stamps below to go directly to the chapter listed:

00:48 introduction
02:50 syllable division; adding long and short syllable marks underneath the syllables to determin the rhythm
12:12 hexameter 5th foot explained
13:20 hexameter 6th foot explained
15:00 how hexameter works
17:12 Stage 1: monotone purpose explained
19:53 ictus explained
23:15 incorrect stress-ictus recitation demonstrated
24:20 Stage 1: monotone executed
26:00 true meaning of ictus
29:00 it’s possible to recite poetry flawlessly *without* understanding metrical structures of poetry
30:50 Stage 1 for line 1
30:10 Stage 1 for line 2
33:25 Stage 2 for line 3
24:25 Stage 3 for line 4
35:28 Stage 1 for line 5
36:10 Stage 1 of line 6
36:38 Stage of line 7
37:00 Stage 1 goal
38:15 Stage 1 for all 7 lines
39:45 Stage 1 graduated
39:55 Stage 2 preparation: add accent marks on stressed syllables
42:20 Stage 2 polytonal spoken inflexion over ditonic base, purpose explained
43:20 Stage 2 for line 1
44:10 Stage 2 for line 2
44:20 Stage 2 for line 3
44:39 Stage 2 for line 4
44:45 Stage 2 for line 5
45:55 Stage 2 for line 6
46:35 Stage 2 for line 7
50:04 Stage 3 purpose explained
50:30 Stage 3 demonstrated
51:30 stress accent explained
53:15 Stage 3 demonstrated again
54:25 Stage 4 pseudo-spoken inflexion
54:00 Stage 4 purpose explained
57:00 Stage 4 demostrated
59:00 Stage 1-4 for line 3
1:02:00 links to Alexander, Aprilis
1:03:00 why you can’t add music wrong to Latin poems; why they get ruined
1:06:00 Stage 5 recitation for performance, explained
1:08:00 Stage 5 demonstrated, take 1
1:09:45 the two ways to perform it wrong
1:12:07 the worst vice of Italians pronouncing latin
1:14:58 why is the “icuts as stress” technique so destructive to Latin poetry?
1:16:40 Stage 5 adding pauses only at punctuation
1:20:54 enjambent
1:25:00 Stage 5 tempo variations

Latin Pronunciation: Disyllables | Metrical Feet

Latin Pronunciation: Trisyllables | Metrical Feet

Latin Pronunciation: Tetrasyllables | Metrical Feet

Latin Pronunciation: Review of Metrical Feet

Romans *did* write with macrons! Video essay on Latin Apices & Hidden Quantity

Ranieri's 5-stage scanning exercise:

How to scan prose, Cicero:

Stop Stealing Latin's Vowels! Why are long vowels so important in Latin?

Latin & Greek Pronunciation Chronology 500 BC - 500 AD (LLiNYC 2020)

Magister Craft:

Legio XIII:

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[KubasRevs]

This just triggered a mighty PTSD episode for me lol. It was the first passage we had to memorise and then recite in hexameter in front of the whole class. We would do a new one each month... for 3 years (duration of high school in PL). Brings back so many memories of trying to speed-learn those last minute at 2am on a school night haha. Learning this one must’ve been particularly traumatic because it’s been 10 years now and I can still recite it on demand. 😂

[dionysiapanagou]

After a year of practicing the Orphic hymns in the dactylic hexameter, following the steps you mention, finally I am able to recite without pressure not only the Orphic but also any poem in this meter even at first sight! Not to mention that the metrics help me memorise the poems easier. This also helps me to create music and sing them. You are great, thank you!

[OscarDeltaSierra]

This is in that rarefied club of videos which justify YouTube’s existence. After trying for years to write English poetry in a tolerable pastiche of Dryden and Pope, I finally realized it is nearly impossible to do so well without having Latin and Greek poetry marinated into one’s bones like they did. This at least can get me started in the right direction.

[demeroux]

Thank you Luke! You are a truly inspiring teacher! Watching your videos really made me absolutely love Latin!

[danielschechtel]

Mind-blowing stuff I hadn't heard of before. Thank you SO much. (I'm learning Latin thanks to you)

[legartjgart]

very clear mastery of the language, and your pedagogical skills are excellent!!! The ads that pop up just when "our" mental focus builds up is so annoying it makes us hate the product that's advertised, and forget it (because hating is not good).

[jacobwong]

Very high quality video! Detailed understandable. I found myself watching the whole video. This video gave me so much joy, finally experiencing Latin the correct way!

[contacttly]

Hi. Is 6am and I'm checking this video.
Even I don't study Latin, it was interesting.
In my opinion: the take at 1:08:00 is "the one".
For my romanian years it sounds natural. I could recognise the style that some local actors are using for reciting poetry.
Good luck ! :)

[abelpalmer]

This is so cool to know as I go into chapter 33 of LLPSI. Just one thing: I couldnt help realizing how much I want to hear you say folks this is your captain speaking here, uh...we'll be landing in just over an hour's time in Detroit, clear skies and temperature 79°....make sure you have your seat belts fastened as we prepare for landing."

[jamesalexander]

I am so very much enjoying your videos. Thank you for your meticulous efforts. You are opening a side of Latin for me that I have longed for all my life.

[maureenmiaullis]

I love listening to you read. You have an awsome voice.

[Roma_eterna]

Believe it or not, this is actually really helpful! I’m writing a novel set in Roman occupied Jerusalem, and, of course, some of my characters use Latin. Although, it’s informal Latin, but still.

[acerockman]

0:42 TRUE i was surprised, but it shows how many talents you have!

[thof]

Great job! To avoid confusion, you might have pointed out the muta cum liquida in line 7, where both consonants belong to the next syllable: pa-tres.

[Kaamanita]

I'm so grateful for your clear explanation. This made my day.

[coffeemachtspass]

This video is pure gold, Luke. You’ve solved many of my problems in one swell foop.

[weirdlanguageguy]

Thanks for this video! I've improved a lot over the past few hours.
P.s. Based on what you said earlier in this video, Latin is my favorite sport.

[truthterrain]

Exactly the explanation I was looking for. Thank you!

[AndersGehtsdochauch]

37:32 😆 hahaha thank you for clearing that up 😀 i thought like, thank goodness my former Latin teachers are all allowed to stay alive on Earth because they taught us poetry the "musical" way and _"leiern" (the German expression for the "awful" way of reciting)_ was strictly forbidden. I guess we were very lucky back then. 😊

[TheZenytram]

this video really help me differentiate stressed short syllable from long syllable.