Throughout the Metamorphoses, Ovid uses word order and scansion to give the reader a sense of setting and emotion. One example of this occurs from lines 863-865 when Europa is just starting to become comfortable with the new bull.
vix iam, vix cetera differt;
last half of spondee/spondee/dactyl/spondee
et nunc adludit viridique exsultat in herba
spondee/dactyl/spondee/spondee/dactyl/spondee
nunc latus in fulvis niveum deponit harenis
dactyl/spondee/dactyl/spondee/dactyl/spondee
In the first line, Ovid writes about Jupiter's longing and impatience. He says,"scarcely now, scarcely he puts of the rest". By making this a spondee-heavy line, Ovid sparks a feeling of drama and suspense. In addition, he uses anaphora, repetition of words, by repeating the word vix (scarcely). This draws attention to how close Jupiter was to brutally kidnapping Europa, instead of gently taking her away, and, paired with the spondees, communicates a sense of longing to the reader.
In the next two lines, Ovid describes Jupiter "playing and rejoicing in the grass" and "resting the snowy flank in the sands." Ovid uses more dactyls here, to suggest that this scene is fun and playful, and not dramatic as the previous one. Furthermore, Ovid uses hyperbaton and synchisis to illustrate this scene. Inline 864, Jupiter "exsultat (rejoices)" in "viridi herba (green grass)." The green grass surrounds the rejoicing, provoking the reader to picture this as they read. Similarly, "latus niveum (snowy flank)" interlocks with "fulvis harenis (tawny sands)", leading the reader to imagine a bull resting on a sandy beach. By using artful word order and rhythm, Ovid clearly illustrates how Jupiter induces Europa into growing comfortable with him, setting up the final scene in the book when Jupiter kidnaps Europa.
vix iam, vix cetera differt;
last half of spondee/spondee/dactyl/spondee
et nunc adludit viridique exsultat in herba
spondee/dactyl/spondee/spondee/dactyl/spondee
nunc latus in fulvis niveum deponit harenis
dactyl/spondee/dactyl/spondee/dactyl/spondee
In the first line, Ovid writes about Jupiter's longing and impatience. He says,"scarcely now, scarcely he puts of the rest". By making this a spondee-heavy line, Ovid sparks a feeling of drama and suspense. In addition, he uses anaphora, repetition of words, by repeating the word vix (scarcely). This draws attention to how close Jupiter was to brutally kidnapping Europa, instead of gently taking her away, and, paired with the spondees, communicates a sense of longing to the reader.
In the next two lines, Ovid describes Jupiter "playing and rejoicing in the grass" and "resting the snowy flank in the sands." Ovid uses more dactyls here, to suggest that this scene is fun and playful, and not dramatic as the previous one. Furthermore, Ovid uses hyperbaton and synchisis to illustrate this scene. Inline 864, Jupiter "exsultat (rejoices)" in "viridi herba (green grass)." The green grass surrounds the rejoicing, provoking the reader to picture this as they read. Similarly, "latus niveum (snowy flank)" interlocks with "fulvis harenis (tawny sands)", leading the reader to imagine a bull resting on a sandy beach. By using artful word order and rhythm, Ovid clearly illustrates how Jupiter induces Europa into growing comfortable with him, setting up the final scene in the book when Jupiter kidnaps Europa.