Aspects of literary style: sounds

Become familiar with the term rhythm, which broadly refers to the arrangement of sounds in a sequence of words or phrases.
Understand how the author’s choice of syllable count and syllable stress creates a particular rhythmic pattern, contributing to the flow of the narrative.
Identify the use of metre, a distinct rhythmic structure given to lines in the narrative. The most common in Latin literature are dactylic hexameter and elegiac couplets.

Grasp the concept of alliteration, which involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in successive or nearby words.
Understand how alliteration can lend a lyrical, rhythmic quality to a narrative, often used to draw attention to particular words or ideas.
Educate yourself with assonance, that involves the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Observe how assonance can influence the musicality and mood of the narrative.

Comprehend the definition of onomatopoeia, words that phonetically mimic or represent the sound they describe.
Recognise the use of onomatopoeia in a text as a tool to create vivid imagery and engage the reader’s auditory senses.
Understand the impact of onomatopoeia on the immersive quality of a narrative, enhancing the reader’s experience of the described events or situations.

Note that while rhyme, the repetition of similar ending sounds in words, is more common in poetry than in Latin prose, it still can appear and make an impact.
Recognise how the occasional use of rhyme can emphasise certain words, themes, or ideas, or provide a pleasing rhythmic pattern.
Understand that in works translated from Latin, the translator’s choice to employ rhyme might differ from the original author’s intention.

Familiarise yourself with the concept of aural symbolism, where particular sounds in words can reflect meaning relating to the narrative or a character.
Notice any patterns or repetition in sounds that might represent a deeper theme or idea.
Explore the idea that in translated works from Latin, certain phonetic elements of aural symbolism might be lost or altered.