An epode is the third part of an ancient Greek choral ode. It follows the strophe and the antistrophe and finishes the sequence. The word epode is also used to describe the second, shorter line in a two-line stanza. These stanzas were created by poets such as Archilochus and Hipponax. The first line of these stanzas uses a dactylic hexameter or an iambic trimeter. (See Archilochian.) The term can also refer to poems, such as those in Horace's Epodes, that are written in these types of stanzas.

Evolution

During a choral ode performance, the choirs, which had previously sung on the right side of the altar or stage and then on the left side, would come together to sing in unison. At times, the leader of the choir, called the coryphaeus, would sing on behalf of the group while standing in the center.

The epode became a part of choral poetry but was later removed as that type of writing declined. However, the use of the epode expanded beyond odes, and early dramatists included many monologues and dialogues that followed the epodical style. In Latin poetry, the epode was written intentionally in an old-fashioned style, both as part of odes and as a separate form of poetry. For example, Catullus’s epithalamia, which were inspired by the work of Pindar, include examples of strophe, antistrophe, and epode. It has also been noted that Horace’s famous ode 1.12, which begins with the line "Quem virum aut heroa lyra vel acri," follows this three-part structure.

Epodesof Horace

The word "epode" is now most commonly known from the Epodon liber, or Book of Epodes, one of Horace's early works. In these poems, Horace wrote that he was creating a new form of poetry in Latin literature and was copying the style of iambic distichs, a type of verse invented by the ancient Greek poet Archilochus. The first ten epodes follow a pattern of alternating lines: one line is written in iambic trimeter, and the next in iambic dimeter, as seen in Epode 5.1–2.

In the remaining seven epodes, Horace used different rhythmic patterns but kept the general structure of two-line verses. These poems were mostly written during Horace's early years and show a more aggressive tone and sharp, argumentative style that is not found in his later works. Because he was copying Archilochus's form, Horace believed it was acceptable to use the harsh and sarcastic language of his model. These short, lyrical poems are called "epodes," even though they look very different from the epodes of early Greek literature.